in the course of the time

USAGE SUMMARY

"in the course of time" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means "over a period of time" or "as time passes." You can use it to describe a process or change that occurs gradually over time. Here is an example: In the course of time, the small village grew into a bustling city.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

And so in the course of the time it took the Steelers to beat the Chiefs in overtime, the Petraeus scandal got bigger and stranger.

The New Yorker

Suddenly, the number of people a typical New Yorker interacts with in the course of the time they have the flu increases to fifty-five.

Stanford University

They are the only direct record of what has occurred in sequences of reproducing populations and in the course of the time on an evolutionary scale.

University of California, Berkeley

A dynamic farm-scale optimization model called OPTIFROP was developed to generate alternative farm development plans, by allocating, in the course of the time horizon of the run, production activities to different land units, while optimising different objective functions, subject to several constraints.

Agricultural Systems

During the treatment of the solution of Methidation at a wavelength of 210 nm, the absorbance decrease in the course of the time of electrolysis for the two electrodes used BDD and SnO2; the results obtained are represented in Fig. 6.

Chemistry Central Journal

In experiment 3, adult microbiome transplanted into 23-d old pigs fed a solid diet did not follow an obvious trajectory in the course of the time series lasting 12 d.

Gut Microbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

In our system up to 12 different solutions can be injected sequentially in the course of the time-lapse experiment (Fig. S1B).

Plosone

In some instances, as mentioned before, we observed the tearing of the TNTs in the course of the time-lapse sequence; yet the GFP-H-RasG12V patches were generally retained on the Jurkat cell following this event (Supplementary Movie 4).

Cell Death and Disease

Organization of education developed naturally in the course of time.

Encyclopedia Britannica

All languages change in the course of time.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In the course of time, these developed endless technical ramifications.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "in the course of the time", ensure it is followed by a specific event or process that unfolds during that period to provide context and clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "in the course of the time" when "during" or "over time" would suffice, as the phrase can sometimes sound verbose. Consider if the extra words genuinely add nuance, or if they just clutter the sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in the course of the time" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun by specifying when something occurs. As Ludwig confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and found in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

29%

Academia

28%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "in the course of the time" is a grammatically sound prepositional phrase that specifies when an action or change occurs within a defined period. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is correct and finds it used in various contexts, especially science, news, and academia. While similar to "in the course of time", it is less frequently used, making it important to consider whether the added specificity of "the" is truly necessary. When aiming for clarity in academic or scientific writing, this phrase is a suitable choice, but be mindful of potential wordiness in more casual contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with the passage of time

Emphasizes the effect of time passing.

over the period

Focuses on the duration aspect, omitting explicit mention of 'time' as a separate entity.

as time goes on

Highlights continuous progression, rather than focusing on a defined timespan.

as time passes by

Emphasizes the continuous flow of time.

during that time

Specifies a particular duration rather than a process unfolding.

as time elapses

Focuses on the act of time disappearing.

throughout the period

Emphasizes the entirety of the duration, removing the implication of evolving processes.

in due time

Suggests an event will happen eventually, without specifying a duration.

during the time frame

Highlights the boundaries of the timeframe.

over a duration

More general than "in the course of the time", lacking any reference to 'time' in its wording.

FAQs

How can I use "in the course of the time" in a sentence?

Use "in the course of the time" to indicate something that happens or changes during a specific period. For example, "In the course of the time series, the microbiome composition changed significantly."

What phrases are similar to "in the course of the time"?

Similar phrases include "over the period", "during that time", or "with the passage of time", all indicating a duration or progression.

Is "in the course of the time" grammatically correct?

Yes, "in the course of the time" is grammatically correct, although it's less common than "in the course of time". Ludwig confirms that the phrase is used in published writing.

What is the difference between "in the course of the time" and "in the course of time"?

While both phrases are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning, "in the course of time" is far more common and natural-sounding. "In the course of the time" is used to refer to a specific period.