for around a minute

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for around a minute" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate an approximate duration of time, often in contexts involving activities or events. Example: "The meeting lasted for around a minute before the main discussion began."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

He was on stage for around a minute before he was wrestled away by federal police.

The Guardian

I now know it went on for around a minute – the longest minute of my life".

The Guardian

"As we arrived, the sun set below the cloud cover and I had almost unreal light for around a minute.

The Guardian - Arts

Leave it for around a minute, then wipe clean.

WikiHow

Completely soak your hair with water by rinsing it for around a minute.

WikiHow

Massage the olive oil or coconut oil in your scalp for around a minute.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

We're looking for short clips (around a minute).

The Guardian - Music

Then, after standing around for a minute, they would start something else.

The New Yorker

"But then Eli just sort of got up, looked around for a minute and ran off to play.

The New York Times - Sports

They circled around for a minute or so, and then Clay was hit, but not hard, by a left hand.

The New Yorker

My father says that his friend Burt came across Margaret in the eighties, when she had been "around for a minute" in the art world.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "for around a minute" when you need to indicate an approximate duration of time, but avoid overuse; vary your language with synonyms like "for about a minute" or "briefly" for better writing flow.

Common error

Avoid using "for around a minute" when a more precise duration is known. If the exact time is, say, 55 seconds, stating "for approximately 55 seconds" would be more accurate and credible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for around a minute" functions as an adverbial phrase of duration, specifying the approximate length of time an action or state persists. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable in written English and serves to provide a general sense of the timing involved.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Wiki

50%

News & Media

45%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "for around a minute" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to indicate an approximate duration of time. Ludwig AI analysis confirms that is correct and usable in written English. It is most frequently found in Wiki and News & Media contexts, indicating a neutral register. For more formal or scientific writing, it may be preferable to use more precise language or alternative phrases. While generally appropriate, be cautious of overusing approximations when more exact durations are available.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for approximately one minute

Replaces "around" with a more formal "approximately" while keeping the duration precise.

for about a minute

Substitutes "around" with the more casual "about", slightly reducing the precision.

for roughly a minute

Replaces "around" with "roughly", indicating an estimation of time.

for close to a minute

Indicates the duration is nearly a minute but might be slightly less or more.

for nearly a minute

Similar to "close to", suggesting the time is just short of a full minute.

for a minute or so

Adds "or so" to indicate a small degree of uncertainty in the duration.

for a brief moment

Replaces the specific duration with a general term for a short time.

for a short while

Similar to "brief moment", providing a less precise duration.

momentarily

Expresses the action happened very briefly, reducing the emphasis on duration.

for a quick minute

Emphasizes the speed and brevity of the action.

FAQs

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

You can use "for around a minute" to describe an action or event that lasts approximately 60 seconds. For example, "I massaged the oil into my scalp "for around a minute"".

What can I say instead of "for around a minute"?

You can use alternatives like "for about a minute", "for approximately one minute", or "briefly" depending on the context.

Is it more correct to say "for about a minute" or "for around a minute"?

Both "for about a minute" and "for around a minute" are acceptable. The choice depends on personal preference and the desired level of formality. "About" is slightly more casual than "around".

When should I use a more precise time measurement instead of "for around a minute"?

If you know the precise duration, it's best to use that instead of an approximation. For instance, if something lasted 45 seconds, say "for 45 seconds" rather than "for around a minute".