incurring time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "incurring time" is not commonly used in written English and may not convey a clear meaning.
It could be interpreted in contexts discussing the costs or consequences of time spent on an activity, but it is not standard phrasing. Example: "By incurring time on this project, we risk delaying our other commitments."

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The use of manual input devices resulted in substantial movement of the eyes between different parts of the system, thus reducing the time spent looking at the graphics screen for design activity; and substantial movement of the hand between input devices, thus incurring time.

International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

In addition many of the qualified doctors lived in the urban centres and people would have to incur time and transportation costs to avail qualified doctors' services.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

If HIRA chooses to monitor cost efficiency using claims data constructed by the incurred time, this will lead to a delay until all claims of that time have been filed.

BMC Health Services Research

These can lead to incorrect data retrieval and incur time overhead to fix.

WikiHow

Incorrect identification of relationship type can lead to wrong data model which can result in incorrect data retrieval and will incur time overhead to fix.

WikiHow

But King was kicking herself for incurring 7.2 time penalties on the earlier steeplechase to add to 1.2 across country.

The Guardian - Sport

Alistair took gold in London and Jonny settled for bronze after incurring a time penalty on the course for a minor cycling infringement.

The Guardian - Sport

Second, attending for screening inevitably entails the incurring of time and travel costs on the part of those being invited.

Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation

WSA is done at the cost of incurring extra time in doing the heuristic optimization on the feature subset.

BioMed Research International

There is of course a personal cost incurred each time injustice is experienced, whether physical, mental or emotional.

The Guardian - Opinion

(Some companies, such as Cisco, have a habit of incurring "one-time charges" over and over again).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider alternatives like "spending time" or "investing time" for clearer and more common phrasing. While grammatically correct, "incurring time" can sound awkward or unclear to many readers.

Common error

Avoid using "incurring time" when simpler phrases like "spending time" or "taking time" would be more readily understood. The goal is clear communication, and sometimes a less formal phrasing is preferable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "incurring time" functions as a gerund phrase acting as a noun, describing the action of experiencing or undergoing a time period, often with the implication of associated costs or consequences. As Ludwig AI points out, it is not a common phrasing.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

36%

Formal & Business

28%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "incurring time" is grammatically correct but rarely used. Ludwig AI notes that it's not a common phrasing. It generally implies the experience of spending time, often with associated costs or negative connotations. While technically sound, simpler alternatives like "spending time" or "taking time" are usually preferred for clarity and broader understanding. When analyzing the phrase, it’s important to consider that despite its correct structure, its infrequency can make it sound awkward in many contexts. Most authoritative sources avoid this phrasing in favor of something more direct. Because of the uncommon usages, it is then wise to prefer alternative and more clear expressions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Spending time

Focuses on the act of allocating time to something, a more general term.

Taking up time

Emphasizes that something requires or occupies time.

Consuming time

Highlights the idea of time being used or depleted by an activity.

Devoting time

Implies a deliberate and dedicated allocation of time.

Investing time

Suggests that time is being used with the expectation of a return or benefit.

Allocating time

Focuses on the act of distributing or assigning time to different tasks.

Experiencing delay

Highlights the negative aspect of time being extended due to some impediment.

Undergoing a time commitment

Focuses on the obligation or responsibility to dedicate time to something.

Losing time

Emphasizes the idea of time being wasted or irretrievably spent.

Bearing the cost of time

Focuses on the cost or expense of spending time on something.

FAQs

What does "incurring time" mean?

While not a standard phrase, "incurring time" generally refers to spending or experiencing a period of time, often with the implication of some cost or consequence. It is not commonly used and can be replaced with clearer alternatives.

What can I say instead of "incurring time"?

You can use alternatives like "spending time", "taking time", or "consuming time" depending on the context.

Is "incurring time" grammatically correct?

Yes, "incurring time" is grammatically correct, but it is not a common or widely accepted phrase. It might sound unusual or unclear to some readers.

When is it appropriate to use "incurring time"?

It might be appropriate to use "incurring time" when you want to emphasize the cost or consequence of spending time on something, but consider whether a clearer alternative like "spending time" or "investing time" would be more effective.