four times in a span

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "four times in a span" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the frequency of an event occurring within a specific period of time. Example: "The team met four times in a span of two weeks to discuss the project updates."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

On Aug. 11, the "tiger" squadron flew into battle four times in a span of eight hours and reported destroying 23 German planes, 3 of them downed by Mr. Freeborn, and damaging 14 others.

The New York Times

The Hurricanes were 5-1-0-1 5-1-0-1 5-1-0-1 5-1-0-1 games, but after the Hurrinanes theira 1-0 lead, Nashville scored four times in a sprevious:51 to sevenits three-gameslosing streak and set a franchise mark for goals in a game in the team's third season.

The New York Times - Sports

The Sabres scored four times in a span of 6 minutes 13 seconds, two of those goals coming 12 seconds apart.

Los Angeles Times

The male patient was scanned a total of four times in a span of 27 months.

Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Kittles made three jumpers and a free throw during the run, and New Jersey got to the free-throw line seven times in a span of 4 minutes 45 seconds after shooting only two free throws in the first half.

The New York Times - Sports

There are times that I listen to her recount a conversation she had with my grandmother three times in a span of three days.

Huffington Post

The Twitter hashtag #IStandWithAhmed, coined by 23-year-old college student Amneh Jafari, was used over 1.6 million times in a span of 72 hours as Ahmed's story resonated with people around the world.

Huffington Post

If there was a gay player on any of my teams, as long as they didn't turn over the ball three times in a span of 58 seconds (a la Mark Sanchez of the Jets) I couldn't care less if they are straight, gay or otherwise".

Huffington Post

The female patient was scanned a total of five times in a span of 35 months.

Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology

The Islanders led by 5-2 headintointhethirdhird, but the Panthers (16-30-5-3) scored four tines in a 7 13 span.

The New York Times - Sports

The Rangers' backup goalie, Steve Valiquette, appeared headed for his fourth straight victory over the Maple Leafs until Toronto scored four times in a 3 30 span of the third.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "four times in a span", ensure that the timeframe is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify "four times in a span of one week".

Common error

Avoid using "four times in a span" without specifying the duration. Saying "The system failed four times in a span" is less informative than "The system failed four times in a span of 24 hours".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "four times in a span" functions as an adverbial phrase of frequency, modifying a verb or clause by specifying how often an action occurs within a defined period. As shown by Ludwig, it is used in various contexts to provide specific details about the frequency of events.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Sports

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "four times in a span" is a grammatically correct phrase used to specify the frequency of an event within a defined timeframe. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and correctness in written English. It's most commonly found in news and media, science, and sports contexts, where providing precise information about frequency is essential. While the phrase is straightforward, it's important to clearly define the timeframe to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "four times over a certain period" or "four instances within a period" can be used for variety, but the core meaning remains consistent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

four times over a certain period

Replaces "in a span" with "over a certain period", offering a simpler alternative.

four times during a set timeframe

Substitutes "in a span" with "during a set timeframe", adding emphasis on the defined time.

four instances within a period

Replaces "times" with "instances" and "span" with "period", providing a slightly more formal tone.

four instances in a given duration

Replaces "times" with "instances" and "span" with "given duration", sounding slightly more formal and precise.

four occurrences during a timeframe

Substitutes "times" with "occurrences" and "span" with "timeframe", offering a more technical phrasing.

four occasions in a defined period

Substitutes "times" with "occasions" and "span" with "defined period", providing a structured tone.

four occasions over a duration

Replaces "times" with "occasions" and "span" with "duration", giving a slightly more literary feel.

four instances across a specific duration

Replaces "times" with "instances" and "in a span" with "across a specific duration", making it sound more descriptive.

repeated four times within a window

Emphasizes the repetition with "repeated" and uses "window" for "span", adding a sense of limitation.

fourfold within a specific time

Uses "fourfold" to condense the "four times" and "specific time" to replace "span", making it more concise.

FAQs

How can I use "four times in a span" in a sentence?

You can use "four times in a span" to indicate the frequency of an event within a specific period, such as "The team met "four times in a span" of one week to discuss the project updates".

What are some alternatives to saying "four times in a span"?

Alternatives include phrases like "four times over a certain period", "four instances within a period", or "four occurrences during a timeframe" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "four times in a span" or "four times during a period"?

Both ""four times in a span"" and "four times during a period" are grammatically correct and can be used interchangeably. The choice depends on personal preference and the desired tone.

When should I use "four times in a span" instead of "frequently"?

Use ""four times in a span"" when you want to specify the exact number of occurrences and the timeframe. "Frequently" indicates a high frequency without providing specific numbers.