for unknown time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for unknown time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a duration that is not specified or is indefinite. Example: "The project has been put on hold for unknown time due to unforeseen circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Two matrices were solved for unknown time independent and time dependent constants by using matrix inversion method for an experimental climatic data of Varanasi, India and design parameters of BiSPVT system.

Solar Energy

The lower sensitivity for "unknown time of stillbirth" likely reflects the larger clinical challenge of determining time of fetal demise in utero.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

This overall 35% (50/143), which includes relatively few cases of a long time lying on the floor in care homes, is far lower than the high prevalence in such situations among residents in sheltered housing 44-499% excluding or including lying on floor for unknown time) and participants living in the community 42-566%) (fig 1).

British Medical Journal

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The time periods over which the prevalence rates were calculated were as follows: 27 studies were for an unknown time period, 7 studies were lifetime prevalence studies, 21 studies were for more than 1 year and 3 studies were less than 1 year.

BMC Psychiatry

Sega Toys in Japan seems to have postponed the release of the "Automated Music Personality" robot A.M.P. for an unknown time period.

TechCrunch

A second order non-linear differential equation for the unknown time function has been obtained by means of Galerkin's procedure and solved in terms of Jacobian elliptic functions.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

In order to avoid his arrest or death from betrayal, Lazcano Lazcano reportedly fled the country and lived in Germany and Costa Rica for an unknown time with surrounding rumors that he had terminal cancer.

Wikipedia

Although Shishman's realm was nominally a Serbian client state for an unknown time, he retained his prior semi-independence and he was completely in charge of his lands.

Wikipedia

Conversely, the rates from Method 2 will be overestimated, because subjects have survived for an unknown time after the last date known to be alive.

British Journal of Cancer

Samples analyzed in the studies by Li et al. [ 3] and Mathelin et al. [ 2] were stored at -80°C and -20°C, respectively for an unknown time.

BMC Medical Genomics

This is a conservative test: because the speciation event defining the outgroup preceded the duplication event, for an unknown time, the paralogs in this analysis existed and accumulated substitutions as singletons.

Biology Direct

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "for unknown time", ensure the context clearly implies the uncertainty of the duration. Rephrasing with a more descriptive term like "indefinitely" might sometimes be more precise.

Common error

Avoid using "for unknown time" when you mean the duration is inherently impossible to determine. "Unknown" implies the information exists but is not currently available, while "unknowable" suggests it can never be known.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for unknown time" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the duration of an action or state. It specifies that the time frame is not defined or known, as seen in Ludwig's examples where projects are delayed or situations persist.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

38%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "for unknown time" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to indicate that a duration is unspecified or indefinite. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across various contexts, including scientific, news, and general writing. While "for unknown time" might not be as frequent as alternatives like "for an indefinite period", it effectively conveys the uncertainty of a timeframe. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly implies the lack of specific knowledge about the duration, and consider if a more descriptive alternative might be more appropriate. The phrase is most commonly found in Science and News & Media contexts, suggesting a neutral to slightly formal register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for an unspecified duration

Replaces "unknown" with "unspecified", focusing on the lack of detail about the time period.

for an indefinite period

Uses "indefinite" to emphasize the lack of a fixed end point.

for an undetermined time

Employs "undetermined" to highlight that the duration hasn't been established yet.

for an unspecified amount of time

Emphasizes the lack of specific information about the duration.

for a certain period

Indicates duration, but the length of time is known or understood, implying it is the opposite of "unknown time".

for an unquantified time

Substitutes "unknown" with "unquantified", stressing the absence of numerical measurement.

for an unmeasured time

Uses "unmeasured" to suggest that the duration has not been or cannot be precisely measured.

for a mysterious time

Adds a sense of intrigue or secrecy to the unknown duration.

for an uncertain duration

Combines the idea of uncertainty with the concept of duration.

for the foreseeable future

Suggests that the duration is likely to be quite long or even permanent.

FAQs

How can I use "for unknown time" in a sentence?

You can use "for unknown time" to indicate that a situation or condition will persist for an unspecified or indefinite duration. For example, "The project has been delayed "for unknown time" due to unforeseen circumstances."

What's a good alternative to "for unknown time"?

Alternatives include phrases like "for an indefinite period", "for an unspecified duration", or "for an undetermined time", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "unknown time" or "unknown period of time"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "unknown period of time" might sound slightly more formal or emphatic. The choice depends on the desired tone and context.

What does "for unknown time" imply about the situation?

Using "for unknown time" suggests that the speaker or writer is aware that the situation will continue for some duration, but they lack specific information about when it will end. It emphasizes the uncertainty of the timeframe.