for like a decade

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for like a decade" is informal but can be used in written English, particularly in casual contexts.
It is typically used to indicate a rough estimate of time, suggesting that something has been happening for approximately ten years. Example: "I've been working on this project for like a decade, and it's finally coming together."

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

('Can I put you on hold for, like, a decade?').

Huffington Post

I mean you've been using that one for like a decade, a change would be refreshing.

Huffington Post

"I got to see what my sympathetic nervous system did at full speed for like a decade," Birdzell said.

Huffington Post

I've been married for like a decade, and while I look back on my wedding day as one of the best days of my life, that's all it was... ONE F*CKING DAY (which was awesome).

Huffington Post

With this discovery of right-wing extremism and the obvious absence of qualified investigators (authorities didn't pick up on that killing spree for like a decade), we wanted to know how present the fear of terror is in the mind of Germans.

Vice

With that shocking discovery of right-wing extremism and the obvious absence of qualified investigators (authorities didn't pick up on that killing spree for like a decade), we wanted to know how present the fear of terror is in the mind of the Germans.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

But either makes a refreshing departure from the various '70s-style sunglasses that have been shielding hipster eyes from reality's harsh glare for something like a decade now.

The New York Times

Pervis is the latest in a line of great French sprinters going back to the national rivalry between Daniel Morelon and Pierre Trentin in the 1960s but he has sprung to prominence only since the London Olympics; he said on Friday he had been waiting for this for what felt like a decade of hard work with little reward.

The Guardian - Sport

We looked at each other for what felt like a decade of my up to this point loser life.

Huffington Post

Unless you live beyond Zone 3, it's unlikely you'll have seen proper snow in London for what seems like a decade.

Vice

In other words, they must vote for Ms Royal, not because she was their first choice, but to stop Mr Sarkozy.Now I have great respect for Mr Delors, whom I have known and liked for over a decade.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for precision in formal writing, replace "for like a decade" with more accurate alternatives such as "for approximately ten years" or "for about a decade".

Common error

Avoid using "for like a decade" in professional or academic writing; its informality can undermine the credibility of your message. Opt for precise durations or less colloquial phrases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for like a decade" functions as an adverbial phrase of duration, modifying a verb by indicating how long an action has been taking place. Ludwig AI highlights its usage in News & Media.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "for like a decade" is an informal adverbial phrase used to indicate a duration of approximately ten years. Ludwig AI analysis indicates that it's grammatically acceptable in casual contexts but less appropriate for formal or professional writing. While commonly found in news and media sources, alternatives such as "for about ten years" or "for approximately a decade" offer more precision and formality. Using precise language enhances clarity and credibility in professional settings. The phrase is primarily found in news and media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for approximately a decade

Replaces "like" with a more formal "approximately", maintaining the core meaning.

for roughly a decade

Substitutes "like" with "roughly", indicating an estimation of time.

for about ten years

Replaces the entire phrase with a more direct and numerical estimation.

for nearly ten years

Uses "nearly" to soften the exactness of the time period.

for close to a decade

Replaces "like" with "close to", implying a near approximation.

for a good ten years

Adds "good" to suggest a substantial amount of time within that decade.

for almost a decade

Uses "almost" to indicate the duration is approaching a decade.

for the better part of a decade

Emphasizes that the duration covers a significant portion of the decade.

for a decade or so

Adds "or so" to make the duration even less precise.

for around a decade

Substitutes "like" with "around" indicating a time approximation.

FAQs

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

You can use "for like a decade" to indicate that something has been happening for approximately ten years. For example, "I've been playing this game for like a decade."

What can I say instead of "for like a decade"?

You can use alternatives like "for about ten years", "for approximately a decade", or "for roughly a decade" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "for like a decade" in formal writing?

No, "for like a decade" is generally considered informal. In formal writing, it's better to use more precise language such as "for approximately ten years" or "for about a decade".

What's the difference between "for like a decade" and "for a decade"?

"For like a decade" is less precise and more colloquial, implying an estimation. "For a decade" is more direct and suggests a more exact duration, though it can still be used loosely. The phrase "for a decade" sounds more formal.