for close to a decade

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for close to a decade" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a time period that is nearly ten years long, often in contexts discussing experience, duration, or historical events. Example: "She has been working in the industry for close to a decade, gaining valuable insights and expertise."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It was a bestseller for close to a decade.

The Guardian

He developed his expertise by living in high style himself for close to a decade.

The New York Times - Magazine

"We have used this vaccine for close to a decade as a pre-school booster.

The Guardian

Companies have been working on vaccines for close to a decade.

The New York Times

By 2000, Mr. Kerik had known or worked for Mr. Giuliani for close to a decade.

The New York Times

In the real world gas prices haven't been this low for close to a decade.

The Guardian - Business

The Corries' battle for justice has dominated their lives for close to a decade.

The Guardian

For close to a decade the young leader has been exercising tyrannical rule over Chechnya.

The Guardian

We have not had an increase in staff for close to a decade".

The New York Times

For close to a decade, many landless have waited fruitlessly for democracy to end that disparity.

The New York Times

QUESTION FROM JOSH: I've worked in libraries for close to a decade.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "for close to a decade" to describe a period that is slightly less than ten years, providing a sense of approximation without being overly precise. It is particularly effective in contexts where the exact duration is not critical, but the length of time is significant.

Common error

Avoid using "for close to a decade" when the context requires precise figures. If you have exact dates or durations, provide the specific information rather than relying on an approximation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for close to a decade" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb or clause by specifying the duration of an action or state. It provides a sense of approximation regarding the length of time involved, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Formal & Business

12%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "for close to a decade" is a common and grammatically correct way to express a duration of approximately ten years. According to Ludwig AI, it functions as an adverbial phrase of time, suitable for various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While precise measurements should be avoided, the phrase is a solid choice for many descriptive sentences. Alternatives include "nearly a decade" or "almost a decade". While it is mostly found in News & Media, it is suitable to be used in almost all registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly a decade

Simplifies the phrasing by removing "close to", keeping the approximate duration.

almost a decade

Replaces "close to" with "almost", indicating a duration just shy of ten years.

approaching ten years

Emphasizes the nearing of the ten-year mark.

for about ten years

Indicates an estimated duration of ten years, using "about" to soften the precision.

around ten years

Uses "around" to indicate an approximate duration.

for roughly a decade

Uses "roughly" to convey an estimated time frame.

in the neighborhood of ten years

More informal, suggesting an approximate duration around ten years.

close to ten years' time

Rephrases the duration by adding "time" to the end.

nearing the ten-year mark

Focuses on reaching a milestone of ten years.

for the better part of a decade

Suggests a significant portion of a decade, implying most of it.

FAQs

How can I use "for close to a decade" in a sentence?

You can use "for close to a decade" to describe a period that is nearly ten years. For example, "The project has been in development "for close to a decade"." This indicates the project has been ongoing for approximately, but not exactly, ten years.

What can I say instead of "for close to a decade"?

You can use alternatives like "nearly a decade", "almost a decade", or "approximately ten years" depending on the context.

Is it more accurate to say "for close to a decade" or "for ten years"?

"For close to a decade" implies an approximate duration, slightly less than ten years. "For ten years" suggests a more precise duration. Choose the phrase that best reflects the actual length of time being described.

What is the difference between "for close to a decade" and "for over a decade"?

"For close to a decade" suggests a period that is slightly less than ten years, while "for over a decade" indicates a period longer than ten years. The key difference lies in whether the duration is approaching ten years or exceeding it.