for a certain duration

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for a certain duration" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a specific period of time during which something occurs or is valid. Example: "The event will be held for a certain duration, so please plan accordingly."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

A more malicious program, dubbed "freeze," locks up a computer system for a certain duration -- minutes or possibly even hours -- risking the loss of data that was unsaved if the computer is restarted.

The New York Times

It must be given for at least 3 days to kill parasites, since it needs to halt cell division for a certain duration before it is fatal to the parasite.

Cornell University

If the load rate exceeds 1 for a certain duration, a queue forms and accumulates upstream.

European Transport Research Review

Context information remains temporally valid for a certain duration, which depends on the type of context data.

Journal of Cloud Computing: Advances, Systems and Applications

Accordingly, if a healthy subject has been exposed to radiation dose for a certain duration (T), then from Eq. (2.1), (2.1.12).

Cancer Nanotechnology

Apply Pitch-SVM at first since we assume that maintaining head in down position for a certain duration corresponds to the most critical pose and can reveal sleep.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

But they were of a certain duration.

The New York Times - Arts

We speak of crotchets and quavers as notes of a certain duration.

The Guardian - Books

Also, considering the overhead on a routing tree construction at each sojourn location of the mobile sink, it is required that the mobile sink sojourns for at least a certain duration at each of its sojourn locations.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Based on the insight into successful transmission link l i, j) as noticed earlier, an encounter e i, j) is defined as an effective continuous transmission between SU v i and SU v j with a certain duration, for ( {v}_i,{v}_jin mathcal{V} ).

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Here's a graph showing the "estimated probability of a relationship surviving to a certain duration, for relationships lasting three months or longer".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "for a certain duration", ensure the context clarifies what determines the duration, even if it's not explicitly stated. This provides clarity and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "for a certain duration" without any context about what influences or sets that duration. Provide some reference, either explicit or implicit, to avoid making the statement too vague for the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for a certain duration" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically modifying a verb or noun to indicate the extent of time an action or state persists. Ludwig examples show it specifying the length of exposure to radiation, the validity of context information or the stability of perception.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "for a certain duration" serves as a prepositional phrase to specify a period of time, often implying that the precise length is either unknown or unimportant. Ludwig examples from academic, scientific, and news media sources illustrate this. Ludwig AI confirms that its grammatical status is correct and demonstrates common usage. While alternatives like "for a specific period" or "for a limited time" exist, "for a certain duration" adds a unique nuance suggesting a length of time not necessarily precisely defined but impacting the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for a specific timeframe

Replaces "duration" with "timeframe" implying a more structured or defined period.

for a limited period

Emphasizes the restricted nature of the time, using "limited" instead of "certain".

for a set amount of time

Uses "set amount of time" to highlight a pre-determined quantity of time.

for a particular interval

Substitutes "duration" with "interval", focusing on the space between two points in time.

within a defined timeframe

Highlights that the duration falls inside known limits, changing the structure of the sentence.

during a stipulated period

"Stipulated" suggests that the period is officially or formally determined.

for a fixed term

Emphasizes that the length of time is unchangeable.

during a measured span

Suggests a calculated or carefully considered length of time.

over a pre-determined extent

Uses “extent” and “pre-determined” to show it has been already set.

for a finite length of time

Highlights that the time is not infinite.

FAQs

How can I use "for a certain duration" in a sentence?

Use "for a certain duration" to specify that an action or state exists during a particular, though not necessarily precisely defined, length of time. Example: "The medication is effective "for a certain duration", after which its effects diminish."

What are some alternatives to "for a certain duration"?

You can use alternatives such as "for a specific timeframe", "for a limited period", or "for a set amount of time" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "for a certain duration" or "for a specific duration"?

"For a specific duration" implies a more precisely defined time period, while ""for a certain duration"" suggests a less precise or generally known time. The best choice depends on the context and the level of precision you want to convey.

What is the difference between "for a certain duration" and "for a period of time"?

"For a certain duration" indicates a specific length of time, even if not precisely stated, whereas "for a period of time" is more general and doesn't necessarily imply a defined or predictable length.