just over a second

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "just over a second" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a duration of time that is slightly more than one second. Example: "The race was won in just over a second, setting a new record for the event."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

A recording of the shooting shows E7 fired eight shots in just over a second.

The Guardian

Klassen's 1 16.47 was just over a second faster than Rodriguez's 1 17.45.

The New York Times - Sports

Video of the shooting shows E7 firing eight shots in just over a second.

The Guardian

Immediately after that, a picture of a face would appear on a screen in front of them for just over a second.

The Economist

Gray scored 39 points Thursday, plus the game-winner with just over a second left, to help oust San Diego State.

The Washington Post

The officer opened fire six-hundredths of a second after the car he was in stopped, firing off eight shots in just over a second.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

Last year 42% of young working Europeans were in temporary employment, up from just over a third a decade ago.

The Guardian

Bulgaria is just over a third as big.

The Economist

Alas, just over a third of employers agreed.

The Economist

Just over a third (37%) took the opposite view.

The Guardian

Mr Bemba came second with just over a fifth of the total vote.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "just over a second" when precision is not critical but you want to convey a sense of immediacy or brevity. It's effective for describing quick actions or short intervals.

Common error

Avoid using "just over a second" in contexts requiring exact timing, such as scientific experiments or technical specifications. Opt for more precise units like milliseconds or exact decimal values.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "just over a second" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb by specifying the duration of an action. Examples from Ludwig show it describing the speed of events, such as firing shots or capturing images. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Sports

24%

Science

12%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Academia

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "just over a second" is a common and grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to describe a short duration slightly longer than one second. As Ludwig AI confirms, its meaning is clear and its use is correct. Predominantly found in News & Media and Sports contexts, it conveys brevity and immediacy. When precision is key, such as in scientific contexts, consider using more exact measurements. For more formal writing, alternatives like "slightly more than a second" may be preferred. While it can be tempting to use it in formal writing, or scientific measurements, remember to opt for more precise options.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly more than a second

Emphasizes the small increment beyond one second in a more descriptive way.

a little over a second

Uses simpler language to indicate a duration marginally exceeding one second.

marginally over a second

Highlights the minimal difference from exactly one second.

just a fraction longer than a second

Highlights that the duration is minimally longer than one second.

barely more than a second

Emphasizes that the duration is only slightly longer than one second.

one and a bit seconds

Informal and less precise, indicating a duration around one second with a small addition.

a second and a fraction

Similar to "one and a bit", but slightly more formal.

approximately one second

Indicates an approximate duration, where the exact time is not critical.

in excess of a second

More formal, suggesting that the duration is definitely longer than one second.

somewhat longer than a second

More vague, indicating a noticeable but not substantial increase over one second.

FAQs

How can I use "just over a second" in a sentence?

You can use "just over a second" to describe a short duration, such as "The race was won in "just over a second"" or "The camera captured the image in "just over a second"".

What's a more formal alternative to "just over a second"?

For a more formal tone, you could use "slightly more than a second" or "a duration exceeding one second by a small margin".

Is it appropriate to use "just over a second" in scientific writing?

While acceptable, it may be more precise to use milliseconds or a decimal representation of seconds in scientific writing to ensure accuracy. Something like "1.1 seconds" could improve clarity and precision.

Which is correct, "just over a second" or "slightly over one second"?

Both "just over a second" and "slightly over one second" are correct and convey essentially the same meaning. The choice often depends on stylistic preference. Another way is "a little over a second".