for a significant time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for a significant time" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate a length of time that is significant or important. For example: I have been living in New York for a significant time.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

The wait-list activity could extend for a significant time".

The New York Times

Then unemployment started falling below that and stayed there for a significant time.

The Guardian - Business

We now require employees to hold any investments in Putnam funds for a significant time.

The New York Times

The complexities of the Italian legal system ensure that case may not reach a resolution for a significant time.

The Guardian - Sport

"We expect that the official cash rate will need to remain at current levels for a significant time," the Reserve Bank governor, Alan Bollard, said.

The New York Times

Mr. Kilduff and several others said some outside producers would probably go along with OPEC if the price stayed below $18 a barrel for a significant time.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

The repeated measures ANCOVAs for GAF revealed a significant time effect for the both the ITT sample and Completer samples (both p value < 0.001).

BMC Psychiatry

Our results indicated that large numbers of hollow-bearing tree are unlikely to be recruited into urban remnants for a significant time-span and as such there is an increased importance placed on maintaining the current inventory of hollow-bearing trees for the maintenance of biodiversity in urban areas.

Biological Conservation

For negative mood, a significant time x training interaction was revealed, F 1,68) = 6.11, p = .016, partial η2 = .08.08

Plosone

Although such orientations are useful for new staff members, they represent a significant time commitment for the faculty members charged with this task.

Stanford University

I moved to Mumbai in 1995, a significant time for conservation; the Bombay Heritage Regulations were introduced in that year.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "for a significant time" to clearly communicate that something lasts or persists longer than a brief moment. It adds emphasis to duration in a sentence.

Common error

Avoid using "for a significant time" when describing actions requiring immediate attention. It implies delay, which can contradict the need for urgency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for a significant time" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify the duration of an action or state. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

37%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "for a significant time" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to denote a considerable duration. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and wide applicability across various writing styles. It is particularly common in "News & Media" and "Science" contexts, indicating its suitability for both formal and neutral registers. To enhance your writing, remember to use it when emphasizing the length of an event, but avoid it in situations requiring immediate action. Consider using alternatives like "for a considerable period" or "for an extended duration" for nuanced meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for a considerable period

Replaces "significant" with "considerable", emphasizing the length of time.

for an extended duration

Substitutes "significant time" with "extended duration", focusing on the prolonged nature of the period.

for a lengthy period

Uses "lengthy period" instead of "significant time", highlighting the duration's extent.

over a protracted time

Replaces "for" with "over" and "significant" with "protracted", indicating a drawn-out duration.

for a substantial duration

Substitutes "significant" with "substantial", stressing the magnitude of the duration.

for a good while

Uses the more informal "a good while" instead of "significant time", suitable for casual contexts.

for quite some time

Employs "quite some time" to replace "significant time", implying a notable duration.

for an appreciable time

Replaces "significant" with "appreciable", indicating a noticeable or measurable duration.

during an extensive period

Uses "during" instead of "for" and replaces "significant" with "extensive", emphasizing the period's breadth.

over the long haul

Offers an idiomatic alternative focusing on persistence across a long duration.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "for a significant time"?

Alternatives include "for a considerable period", "for an extended duration", or "for a lengthy period", depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "for a significant time" in formal writing?

Yes, "for a significant time" is suitable for formal writing. However, consider alternatives like "for a substantial duration" or "over a protracted time" for potentially greater precision.

What does "for a significant time" imply about the duration?

It implies that the duration is long enough to be noteworthy or important. The exact length is relative to the context, but it's more than a brief moment.

How do I use "for a significant time" correctly in a sentence?

Place it after the action or state you're describing. For example, "The effects of the policy were felt "for a significant time"".