for almost a quarter

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for almost a quarter" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a duration of time that is close to a quarter of a year, typically around three months. Example: "I have been working on this project for almost a quarter, and I am starting to see significant progress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

British visitors accounted for almost a quarter of the total.

The New York Times

In 2006 EU countries accounted for almost a quarter of world defence spending.

The Economist

Luckily, one picture accounted for almost a quarter of the proceeds.

The New York Times - Arts

Midnight screenings alone accounted for almost a quarter (£2.4m) of the Thursday tally.

The Guardian - Film

She has been an MP for almost a quarter of a century, representing Wallasey since 1992.

The Guardian

Chinese visitors already account for almost a quarter of tourist spending in the UK.

The Guardian - Business

Ms. Frisell's production, in use for almost a quarter century, is like a large, well-built but rudderless ship.

The New York Times - Arts

Nokia once accounted for almost a quarter of the country's corporate tax revenues, and employed 24,600 people.

Independent

They already account for almost a quarter of all spending on music, more than double the share of Apple's iTunes.

The Economist

Can the star's brand be separated from the show that has nurtured it for almost a quarter of a century?

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

He is a protégé of João Havelange, who ran FIFA for almost a quarter-century until 1998.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "for almost a quarter" to refer to time, ensure the context clarifies whether you mean a quarter of a year (three months) or a quarter of a century (25 years). Add clarifying information if needed.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by specifying the unit of time. For example, instead of saying "The project lasted for almost a quarter", clarify it as "The project lasted for almost a quarter of a year" or "The project lasted for almost a quarter of a century" to prevent misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for almost a quarter" typically functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by indicating duration. As Ludwig AI points out, it is grammatically correct and indicates a time nearing a quarter of a year or century.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

26%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "for almost a quarter" is a common and grammatically correct way to express a duration nearing a quarter of a year (three months) or a quarter of a century (25 years). As Ludwig AI confirms, it is versatile and can be used in various contexts, ranging from news reports to scientific articles. To ensure clarity, it's essential to specify the time unit (year or century) if ambiguity may arise. Its prevalence in reputable sources such as The New York Times and The Economist underscores its reliability and widespread acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for nearly a quarter

Replaces "almost" with "nearly", maintaining the same meaning.

for close to a quarter

Substitutes "almost" with "close to", indicating a similar approximation.

for around a quarter

Uses "around" to denote approximation, slightly less precise than "almost".

for approximately one fourth

Uses a numerical fraction to express the duration, slightly more formal.

for roughly a fourth

Employs "roughly" to convey an estimated amount, similar to "almost".

for practically a quarter

Replaces "almost" with "practically", emphasizing nearness.

for just under a quarter

Indicates the duration is slightly less than a quarter.

for in the vicinity of a quarter

More verbose and formal way of saying "almost a quarter".

for something like a quarter

Informal way to indicate an approximate duration.

approaching a quarter

Highlights the progression towards a quarter, rather than the current state.

FAQs

How can I use "for almost a quarter" in a sentence?

You can use "for almost a quarter" to describe a duration close to either three months or twenty-five years, depending on the context. For example, "She has been working at the company "for almost a quarter" of a century" or "The plants have been growing "for almost a quarter" of a year".

What does "for almost a quarter" mean?

The phrase "for almost a quarter" signifies a period nearing one-fourth of a specified time unit. Typically, this refers to approximately three months (a quarter of a year) or about 25 years (a quarter of a century). The context clarifies the intended duration.

Which is more accurate, "for almost a quarter" or "for exactly a quarter"?

"For exactly a quarter" indicates a precise duration of three months or 25 years. "For almost a quarter" implies a duration close to, but not precisely, a quarter. The choice depends on the accuracy you want to convey.

What are some alternatives to saying "for almost a quarter"?

Depending on the desired level of formality and precision, alternatives include "for nearly a quarter", "for approximately one fourth", or "for roughly a fourth". These convey a similar sense of approximation.