for any second

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for any second" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing time or the possibility of something happening at any moment. Example: "I wouldn't have believed it for any second if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Lenders would be required to lower the interest rate to just 1percentt for any second mortgage in which the borrower was repaying principal as well as interest.

The New York Times

And even if it is relaxed, it will take at least 15 years for any second children to reach working age.

The Economist

But that changed in the most recent three months, with total Westchester sales setting a record for any second quarter: 2,531 closed sales, 24percentt higher than a year earlier.

The New York Times

Adding an additional primary and a runoff next year would cost the county an extra $560,000, not counting the roughly $150,000 it would cost for any second mailing of voter registration cards, she said.

The New York Times

Goethe resolved to preserve as much as he could of the Roman atmosphere in Weimar, set about hiring artists he had met in Italy, and at once before there was time for any second thoughts took himself a mistress, Christiane Vulpius, the daughter of the duke's late archivist.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Then for any second order moment processes in quadratic mean continuous on any finite closed interval, one has (2.6).

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

And they need to put in other firewalls to prepare for any second-order impacts.

The New York Times

Last month, the city of Cupertino adopted the R1-e rule (the "e" stands for Eichler), requiring a design review for any second-story addition to an Eichler.

The New York Times

Although the president is much more popular than Republicans, his job-approval rating — in the mid-40 percent range — is the lowest for any second-term president at this juncture since Richard Nixon.

The New York Times

But the prospects for something this year look better than for some time.As a result, Mr Bush has also been able to contain one of the habitual risks for any second-term president, that the component parts of his governing coalition fly apart without the discipline of a re-election campaign.

The Economist

Triplets can be a tough undertaking for any first-time parent.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "for any second" to express the possibility of something happening at any given point in time. For example, "I wouldn't believe it for any second if I hadn't seen it."

Common error

Avoid using "for any second" when you intend to describe a continuous duration or period. Use "for a second" or "for some time" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for any second" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause. It indicates the possibility of something happening at any given moment, emphasizing a continuous potential. Ludwig examples confirm this usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

12.5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6.25%

Formal & Business

3.125%

Social Media

3.125%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "for any second" functions as an adverbial phrase to indicate something could happen at any given moment, expressing a sense of continuous potential. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It appears most frequently in News & Media and Science contexts. When writing, it's important to use "for any second" to talk about the imminence of a given action and to avoid confusing it with duration. Alternative phrases include ""at any moment"" and "at any time".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at any moment

Emphasizes the imminence or possibility of something happening very soon.

at any time

Indicates availability or possibility without a specific time constraint.

in any instance

Highlights the potential occurrence within a broad range of circumstances.

at all times

Implies a constant or continuous state, broader than a specific moment.

in any case

Suggests a contingency plan or a fallback position.

for a moment

Focuses on a brief duration, not necessarily any specific second.

at a given moment

Highlights a specific point in time that might be relevant.

during any instant

Stresses the possibility during a fleeting moment.

within a heartbeat

Emphasizes a very short amount of time.

in a split second

Implies something happens very quickly.

FAQs

How can I use "for any second" in a sentence?

Use "for any second" to indicate that something could happen at any given moment, emphasizing the continuous possibility. For example, "I expected the phone to ring "at any moment"."

What is a good alternative to "for any second"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like ""at any moment"", "at any time", or "in any instant" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "at any second" instead of "for any second"?

While "for any second" is grammatically correct, "at any second" is less common. "At any moment" is a more standard and frequently used alternative.

What does "for any second" emphasize in a statement?

The phrase "for any second" emphasizes the continuous potential or possibility of something occurring at any given point, without specifying a particular timeframe. If it's not that important that the action is a continuous potential it's better to use alternatives such as "at any time".