have elapsed since

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have elapsed since" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to describe a period of time that has passed between two events or actions. Example: "Six months have elapsed since I last saw my brother." This sentence means that it has been six months since the speaker saw their brother. Other examples: - "Five years have elapsed since I graduated from college." - "Only a few hours have elapsed since the start of the race." - "Several weeks have elapsed since we moved into our new house."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Only 166 days have elapsed since that pledge.

The Guardian - Business

Seven years have elapsed since Ms. McDermott's "After This" arrived.

The New York Times - Books

Five years have elapsed since Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Sammy Sosa retired from baseball.

The New Yorker

Four years have elapsed since the opening night of The Full Monty.

The Guardian - Film

A second problem is that only four years have elapsed since Labour was last in power.

The Guardian - Business

Thirty years have elapsed since a mother won the ladies' singles title at Wimbledon.

The Guardian - Sport

In Major Hasan's case, three years and nine months have elapsed since the shooting.

The New York Times

THREE months have elapsed since Congress assembled after the election, and almost nothing has been done.

The Economist

ALMOST six years have elapsed since the start of the financial crisis.

The Economist

Five years have elapsed since the pioneering Afrobeat band Antibalas last released a CD.

The New York Times - Arts

Although three months have elapsed since the order, the landlord has neither adjusted the rent nor returned the overcharge.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have elapsed since", ensure the verb tense in the subsequent clause aligns logically with the timeframe. For instance, use the past perfect tense to describe an action completed before the elapsed time.

Common error

Avoid using the simple past tense in the clause following "have elapsed since" when referring to an action that occurred before the elapsed period. Using past perfect ensures clarity. For example, "Five years have elapsed since I had graduated" is better than "Five years have elapsed since I graduated."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have elapsed since" functions as a temporal marker, indicating the duration between a past event and the present moment. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use to specify the length of time that has passed since a particular occurrence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Books

3%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have elapsed since" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote the amount of time that has passed since a specific event. According to Ludwig, its usage spans across diverse contexts, from news and media to scientific publications, with a slightly formal tone. While alternatives like "have passed since" offer simpler phrasing, "have elapsed since" effectively quantifies the time while potentially adding emphasis to the duration. Paying attention to the proper tense usage following the phrase is essential for clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have passed since

Replaces "elapsed" with "passed", a more common and simpler term for the progression of time.

have transpired since

Substitutes "elapsed" with "transpired", suggesting a more formal and sometimes significant passage of time.

have gone by since

Uses "gone by" instead of "elapsed", offering a more informal and conversational tone.

the time since

Rephrases the construction to emphasize the duration since a specific event.

the period since

Similar to "the time since" but uses "period" to specify a distinct interval.

have occurred since

Focuses on the occurrence of time, rather than its simple passage.

have unfolded since

Implies a gradual revelation or development over the passage of time.

have rolled by since

Emphasizes the continuous and almost effortless passage of time.

have accumulated since

Highlights the accumulation of time, often implying a significant quantity.

the interval since

Similar to "the period since" but uses "interval" to specify a measured space between two points in time.

FAQs

How do I use "have elapsed since" in a sentence?

Use "have elapsed since" to indicate the amount of time that has passed from a specific event. For example, "Three months have elapsed since the order, the landlord has neither adjusted the rent nor returned the overcharge."

What's a more formal way to say "have elapsed since"?

A more formal alternative to "have elapsed since" is "have transpired since". This phrase is often used in official or academic contexts.

Can "have elapsed since" be used for events in the future?

No, "have elapsed since" is used to describe time that has passed from a past event, not a future one. You can't say that time "has elapsed" for something that has not yet happened.

What is the difference between "have elapsed since" and "have passed since"?

While both phrases are similar, "have passed since" is more common and generally implies a simpler passage of time. "Have elapsed since" carries a slightly more formal tone, suggesting a more measured duration.