for around a decade

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for around a decade" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate a time period of approximately ten years, often in contexts discussing experience, trends, or changes over time. Example: "She has been working in the industry for around a decade, gaining valuable insights and expertise."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

Belmokhtar's scarred face has been known to western security services for around a decade.

The Guardian

The pair traded insults, but more importantly, for around a decade, not only produced one great team apiece but several.

The Guardian - Sport

Pollsters Ipsos MORI have asked the public the same question each year for around a decade and found very strong opposition each time.

Independent

For around a decade, scientists have been trying to regrow nerve cells lost in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) from stem cells.

The Guardian

FOR around a decade, a group of campaigners has been arguing that the public should not have to pay to read the results of the scientific research which it has, through its taxes, financed.

The Economist

Professor Jiang Guohua, from the China Astronaut Research and Training Centre, said the facility would be designed to last for around a decade and support three astronauts working on microgravity science, space radiation biology and astronomy.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

"We've been going around for a decade and a half, I think too eagerly, saying al Qaeda is finished.

Vice

The James Dean project bounced around for almost a decade.

The New York Times

Babbel has been around for over a decade.

TechCrunch

Veteran music streaming service Rhapsody has been around for over a decade.

TechCrunch

The PMML standard has been around for over a decade (the version 1.0 was released in 1999).

Journal of Cheminformatics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "for around a decade" when you want to indicate an approximate duration of ten years without being overly precise. It's suitable for general contexts where an exact figure isn't necessary.

Common error

Avoid using "for around a decade" in contexts where exactness is crucial. For scientific or legal documents, provide specific dates or durations instead of approximations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for around a decade" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb or clause by specifying the duration of an action or state. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is widely used across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "for around a decade" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to indicate an approximate duration of ten years. Ludwig AI confirms its broad acceptance and usability. It is prevalent in various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science, conveying a sense of time without demanding precision. When exactness is not critical, this phrase serves as a convenient and widely understood way to express duration. Alternatives such as "for approximately ten years" or "over the past decade" can be used depending on the desired level of formality or emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for approximately ten years

Replaces "around a decade" with a more explicit numerical estimation, increasing precision.

for about ten years

Substitutes "around" with "about", offering a slightly more informal and direct estimation.

for roughly ten years

Uses "roughly" instead of "around", indicating an approximate duration.

for a period of ten years

Emphasizes the duration as a specific period, adding a touch of formality.

for nearly a decade

Suggests the duration is close to, but not quite, ten years.

for close to a decade

Similar to "nearly a decade", implying an almost-reached ten-year mark.

in the last ten years

Focuses on the timeframe as a recent past period, shifting the perspective slightly.

over the past decade

Highlights the period as a progression leading to the present.

within the last decade

Specifies that the event occurred sometime during the most recent ten-year span.

for a decade or so

Adds a colloquial touch, indicating an approximate duration with a slight margin of error.

FAQs

How can I use "for around a decade" in a sentence?

You can use "for around a decade" to indicate an approximate duration of ten years. For example, "The company has been operating in this region "for around a decade"."

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

Some alternatives include "for approximately ten years", "for about ten years", or "over the past decade".

Is it correct to say "for around a decade"?

Yes, "for around a decade" is grammatically correct and widely used in both spoken and written English. It's an idiomatic way to express an approximate period of ten years.

What's the difference between "for around a decade" and "for ten years"?

"For ten years" implies a precise duration, while "for around a decade" suggests an approximate duration. Use "for around a decade" when you want to convey a general timeframe rather than an exact count.