greatest duration

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "greatest duration" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the longest period of time something lasts or is expected to last. Example: "The project was designed to have the greatest duration possible to ensure thorough research and development."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

On land, the terms glacial or glaciation describe cold periods of the greatest duration, whereas the intervening warm periods are called interglacials.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This set the record for greatest duration at the intensity, surpassing the previous record of 114 hours set by Typhoon Joan in 1997; Fengshen's record was later tied by Typhoon Ioke in 2006.

Wikipedia

For males, the relationships between nuptial gift size, body size and attractiveness remained the same as males who provided nuptial gifts for the greatest duration were both the largest and most attractive.

Plosone

A strong association between nocturnal hypoxia and risk of hypertension has also been demonstrated in a large cross-sectional community-based study [6], with subjects experiencing the greatest duration of sleep with an SaO2 below 90% having a 46% increased risk of hypertension.

Plosone

The greatest duration of treatment in any patient our study was 9 days.

Critical Care

If the results of a study were reported at multiple time points, we included the publication of greatest duration provided it remained a double blind randomised controlled trial and fully reported respiratory adverse events.

British Medical Journal

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

We found the western and southwestern hydrophones had the greatest durations of foraging clicks (Figure 5).

Plosone

May they be of greater duration.

The New York Times - Arts

Cycles of greater duration than the Juglar cycle have also been studied.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Stone Age was of great duration, having occupied practically all of the Pleistocene Epoch.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Of course, the great duration of the entrapment of these 33 must have been psychologically punishing beyond belief.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing experimental design, clearly state the "greatest duration" of treatment or observation to ensure reproducibility.

Common error

Avoid using "greatest duration" when you mean a statistically significant duration. "Greatest" refers to the longest measured time, not necessarily the most important or impactful one.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "greatest duration" primarily functions as a noun phrase acting as an adjective to describe something that has the longest length in time. This is supported by Ludwig, which confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "greatest duration" is a grammatically correct and usable English phrase, as affirmed by Ludwig. It functions primarily as a noun phrase, often found in formal and scientific contexts to denote the longest period of time something lasts. While alternatives like "longest time" or "maximum length of time" exist, "greatest duration" offers a specific emphasis on the extent of time. Remember to use it accurately to reflect the longest measured time, not just a significant period. Although uncommon, its correct usage enhances precision in academic and scientific writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

longest time

Focuses on the length of time rather than the duration of an event or condition.

maximum length of time

Emphasizes the upper limit of a time span.

peak duration

Suggests the highest point of an ongoing period or event.

maximum period

Highlights a limit of a period.

most extended period

Suggests an increased time beyond the standard. 'Extended' replaces 'duration' to add detail.

maximum timeframe

Highlights the time available to do something. Replaces 'duration' to add detail.

ultimate time span

Denotes an ultimate end of time to do something. 'Time span' replaces 'duration'.

extreme length

Highlights that is the longest something can be.

highest temporal extent

Replaces both 'greatest' and 'duration' with more technical terms.

fullest term

Suggests a completion of a period, often in a contractual or defined sense.

FAQs

How can I use "greatest duration" in a sentence?

You can use "greatest duration" to describe the longest period something lasts. For example, "The study examined the effects of the drug over its "greatest duration" of effectiveness."

What are some alternatives to "greatest duration"?

Alternatives include "longest time", "maximum length of time", or "peak duration", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say 'the duration is greatest'?

While grammatically understandable, it's more common and natural to say "the "greatest duration"". The adjective "greatest" typically precedes the noun "duration".

What is the difference between "greatest duration" and "average duration"?

"Greatest duration" refers to the single longest period observed, while "average duration" refers to the typical or mean length of time across multiple instances. They describe different aspects of time spans.