has spanned

USAGE SUMMARY

"has spanned" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that something has existed over a period of time. For example: "This family has spanned four generations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The movement has spanned generations.

The New Yorker

It has spanned three decades.

The New York Times

At 84, Morrison's career has spanned decades.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The phenomenon has spanned the ages.

The New York Times - Health

His 40-year career has spanned television, stage and film.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

For Ms. Thornton, the struggle has spanned several fronts.

The New York Times

His literary career has spanned 50 years and 22 novels.

Independent

The Mets' run of medical misfortune has spanned the past couple of seasons.

The New York Times - Sports

"Your Majesty's reign has spanned about a dozen of each, and counting.

The Guardian - Opinion

Lord Black of Brentwood's career has spanned politics, public affairs and the media.

The Guardian

The partnership is now worth 65 runs, and has spanned 33 overs.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has spanned" to indicate that something has existed or been relevant across a significant period of time, especially when emphasizing continuity or impact over that duration.

Common error

Avoid using "has spanned" when referring to events that occurred only in the past and are now definitively over without lasting consequences. Use a simple past tense form like "spanned" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has spanned" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect tense. It indicates that an action or state began in the past and continues into the present, or has present relevance. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has spanned" is a versatile verb phrase used to describe something that extends or exists across a period. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across various contexts, particularly in news, science, and formal business settings. When using this phrase, ensure that the subject indeed began in the past and continues to the present. Alternatives like "extended across" or "covered a period of" can be used depending on the specific nuance. Keep in mind, as Ludwig suggests, that while alternatives exist, "has spanned" remains a concise and effective way to communicate duration and continuity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extended across

Focuses on the geographical or conceptual reach, rather than the duration.

covered a period of

Emphasizes the duration that something includes.

encompassed the years

Highlights the years that something includes within its scope.

stretched over

Implies a long and often continuous duration.

persisted throughout

Emphasizes the continuation of something through a period.

endured for

Highlights the lasting quality of something over time.

lasted through

Simple and direct, focusing on the duration of something.

prevailed during

Suggests a dominant presence throughout a given time.

ran for

Focuses on the period of time something was active or in operation.

extended from...to...

Specifies start and end points of a duration.

FAQs

How can I use "has spanned" in a sentence?

Use "has spanned" to describe something that has extended or existed across a period of time. For example, "Her career "has spanned" several decades" indicates her career was active and continued through those decades.

What are some alternatives to saying "has spanned"?

You can use alternatives like "extended across", "covered a period of", or "stretched over" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "had spanned" instead of "has spanned"?

While both are grammatically correct, "has spanned" indicates something that started in the past and continues to have relevance or effect in the present. "Had spanned" would refer to something that was completed in the past before another point in the past.

What is the difference between "has spanned" and "spans"?

"Has spanned" is in the present perfect tense, describing an action that began in the past and continues to the present or has present relevance. "Spans" is in the simple present tense, describing an action that happens regularly or is generally true. For example, "The bridge spans the river" means it does so generally, while "The project has spanned several years" indicates a past-initiated, ongoing action.