it lasted for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "It lasted for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a duration of time that something was happening. For example: "It lasted for five minutes before the storm passed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It lasted for hours.

The Economist

"It lasted for 20 years.

The New York Times

It lasted for three hours.

The Washington Post

It lasted for five hours.

The Guardian - Arts

It lasted for several seconds.

The New York Times - Magazine

It lasted for an hour.

The New York Times - Magazine

"And it lasted for decades".

The New York Times

It lasted for a week.

The Guardian - Books

It lasted for about 24 hours.

Independent

It lasted for less than six months.

The Economist

It lasted for all of 13 seconds.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it lasted for" to clearly indicate the duration of an event, activity, or state. Ensure the subject 'it' is clearly defined in the preceding context to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "it lasts for" when referring to a past event. The phrase "it lasted for" should be used for completed actions or periods in the past. Use "it lasts for" to describe something that happens regularly or is ongoing in the present.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it lasted for" functions as a verb phrase, specifically indicating the duration of a particular event or state. It is commonly used to specify how long something continued, existed, or persisted, which is supported by examples found in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

28%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it lasted for" is a common and grammatically correct way to express the duration of an event, activity, or state. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability in English writing. With a high frequency across diverse sources like News & Media, Science, and Academia, it demonstrates versatility and widespread acceptance. When using this phrase, ensure the tense aligns with the context and that the subject is clear to avoid ambiguity. Consider alternatives such as "it continued for" or "it extended for" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it continued for

Replaces "lasted" with "continued", emphasizing ongoing action.

it extended for

Substitutes "lasted" with "extended", highlighting the reach of the duration.

it endured for

Replaces "lasted" with "endured", suggesting a sense of hardship or challenge over the duration.

it persisted for

Uses "persisted" instead of "lasted", implying continuous existence despite potential obstacles.

it spanned for

Changes "lasted" to "spanned", focusing on the range or scope of the time period.

the duration was

Rephrases to emphasize the "duration" itself rather than the action of lasting.

the period was

Focuses on the "period" of time, offering a more neutral description.

it stretched out for

Implies a longer or more drawn-out duration using "stretched out".

it occupied

Replaces the verb with "occupied", indicating that the duration was filled with something.

it held on for

Emphasizes resilience and tenacity when talking about how long something lasted.

FAQs

How can I use "it lasted for" in a sentence?

Use "it lasted for" to specify the duration of something in the past. For example, "The meeting lasted for two hours" or "The storm lasted for several days".

What are some alternatives to saying "it lasted for"?

You can use alternatives such as "it continued for", "it extended for", or "it endured for" to express duration in different ways.

Is it correct to say "it lasts for" instead of "it lasted for"?

The correct tense depends on the context. Use "it lasted for" when referring to a completed action in the past. Use "it lasts for" to describe something that happens regularly or is ongoing in the present.

What's the difference between "it lasted for" and "it held on for"?

"It lasted for" simply indicates the duration of something. "It held on for" implies a struggle or effort to continue existing or functioning.