for a decade

USAGE SUMMARY

"for a decade" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is used to indicate a period of ten years. Some examples of when you can use this phrase are: 1. I have lived in this city for a decade now. 2. The company has been in operation for a decade. 3. She has been studying ballet for a decade and is now a professional dancer. 4. The technology has advanced greatly in the past decade. 5. My grandfather served in the military for a decade before retiring.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

For a decade, her A.A.U.

The New York Times - Sports

He stayed for a decade.

The New York Times - Arts

Mr. Matthews was there for a decade.

The New York Times

She was then healthy for a decade.

The New York Times

It remained relatively obscure for a decade.

The Economist

Structural unemployment may continue for a decade.

The New York Times

They were colleagues for a decade.

The New Yorker

They lived together for a decade.

The New Yorker

He got nothing for a decade.

Independent

Then, for a decade, it rose.

The New Yorker

Iran bled for a decade.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "for a decade" to clearly indicate a period of ten years. Ensure the context provides a reference point for when the decade starts or ends for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "for a decade" when you mean a different duration, such as 'for several years' or 'for a century'. Be precise with your time references.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for a decade" functions as an adverbial phrase of duration, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate how long something lasted. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "for a decade" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to denote a period of ten years. Ludwig AI confirms its wide acceptance and use across various domains, particularly in news and media. While alternatives exist, such as "over ten years" or "in the last ten years", the choice depends on the specific nuances you wish to convey. Remember to use this phrase when precision about the ten-year timeframe is important and to be mindful of the context to ensure clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

over ten years

This alternative replaces 'a decade' with its numerical equivalent, emphasizing the length of time.

in the last ten years

This phrase focuses on a recent ten-year period, adding a sense of recency.

during the past decade

Similar to 'in the last ten years', this emphasizes a completed ten-year period.

for the last decade

This variant adds a sense of completion to the ten-year period.

spanning ten years

This highlights the duration itself, focusing on the action or state extending across a decade.

a period of ten years

This is a more formal and explicit way of stating the duration.

ten years running

This implies a continuous action or state over the ten-year period.

throughout the decade

This phrase emphasizes activities or events occurring at various points within the ten-year timeframe.

ten years straight

This suggests an uninterrupted continuation for ten years.

for a period of ten consecutive years

More formal phrasing emphasizing unbroken continuity over the decade.

FAQs

How do I use "for a decade" in a sentence?

Use "for a decade" to specify that something has occurred or lasted for ten years. For example, "The company has been a market leader "for a decade"."

What are some alternatives to saying "for a decade"?

You can use phrases such as "over ten years", "in the last ten years", or "during the past decade" as alternatives to "for a decade", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say 'during a decade' instead of "for a decade"?

While 'during the decade' refers to events that happened within a specific ten-year period, "for a decade" indicates the duration of an event or state. The choice depends on the intended meaning.

Can I use "for a decade" to refer to any ten-year period?

Yes, "for a decade" can refer to any ten-year period, but it's often clearer to specify which decade if the context isn't obvious. For example, "The 1980s were prosperous "for a decade"."