in the span of

USAGE SUMMARY

"in the span of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to indicate a period of time which has passed or is expected to pass. For example, "Within the span of five years, she had accomplished her goal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

All in the span of eight days.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

(The second in the span of two minutes of gameplay).

The Guardian - Sport

Much has changed in the span of that tap life.

The New York Times

In the span of an hour, there were two disqualifications.

The New York Times - Sports

In the span of 24 hours, Phelps did it twice.

The New York Times - Sports

Five trillion dollars (£3bn) of Americans' household wealth evaporated in the span of just three months.

The Guardian - Business

"In the span of a year, we've travelled over 150,000km," Rossi says.

The Guardian - Sport

Over the summer, 677 people were killed in the span of one month.

The Guardian

In the span of a few miles, we saw the landscape completely change.

The New York Times - Travel

She is often admonitory, self-reflective, and maternal in the span of a single column.

The New Yorker

In the span of six batters, three Mariners infielders had made errors.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in the span of" to emphasize that something occurs within a specific, often surprisingly short or defined, period. For instance, highlight rapid changes or accomplishments: "The company's revenue doubled in the span of a year."

Common error

Avoid using "in the span of" when simply indicating a general duration without specific emphasis on the period itself. Use "during" or "over" instead. For instance, instead of saying "The project was completed in the span of three years," say "The project was completed over three years."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in the span of" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a noun or verb, indicating the duration or timeframe within which an event or action occurs. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct. For example, "Five trillion dollars (£3bn) of Americans' household wealth evaporated in the span of just three months."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Wiki

4%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "in the span of" is a versatile and grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to emphasize a specific timeframe within which an event occurs. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used to indicate a period of time which has passed or is expected to pass. Predominantly found in News & Media, it serves to highlight the duration or speed of an event, making it a useful tool for drawing attention to rapid changes or significant occurrences. To use it effectively, remember to reserve it for situations where you want to emphasize the time frame itself, and avoid it in contexts where a simple "during" or "over" would suffice. By following these guidelines, you can confidently incorporate "in the span of" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

within the period of

Replaces "span" with "period", emphasizing a defined duration. Slightly more formal.

during the course of

Implies a progression or unfolding of events over a time period. Can suggest a more natural or expected occurrence.

over the duration of

Highlights the length of the time period involved. Useful when the length is significant.

throughout the period of

Suggests that something happens continuously or repeatedly during the specified time.

in the timeframe of

Similar to "span", but focuses more on the specific limits of the time period.

inside of

More informal way of expressing the time limit.

within a time frame of

Replaces "span" with "time frame", focusing the attention on boundaries of the period.

in a period of

More general way of indicating a duration. Loses some of the emphasis on the contained events.

during

A more concise, but less specific, way to indicate when something happens. Loses the sense of a contained timeframe.

over

A shorter way to indicate a duration, useful when indicating trends over time.

FAQs

How can I use "in the span of" in a sentence?

Use "in the span of" to emphasize the time frame within which something occurs. For example, "In the span of just one month, the company launched three new products."

What's the difference between "in the span of" and "during"?

"In the span of" emphasizes a specific, often short, period, while "during" is more general. "The stock market crashed in the span of a week" highlights the rapid collapse, while "The stock market was volatile during the week" simply indicates volatility.

What phrases are similar to "in the span of"?

Alternatives include "within the period of", "during the course of", or "over the duration of". The best choice depends on the specific context and emphasis you want to convey.

Is "in the span of" formal or informal?

"In the span of" is generally considered neutral in tone and suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, alternatives like "within the period of" might be preferred in very formal writing.