lasting for

USAGE SUMMARY

"lasting for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a period of time that continues over a certain amount of time. Example sentence: The cold weather lasted for two weeks.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Secondly, in vivo protein protein interactions can be transient (e.g. lasting for milliseconds to seconds) or long lasting (lasting for hours to days) and biochemically stable.

ASN Neuro

Hangovers were lasting for days.

The Times

work is lasting for another reason.

The New York Times

That led to more conversations, some lasting for hours.

The New York Times

An incredible inflation got under way, lasting for decades.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A third stall warning sounded, lasting for about a minute.

The New York Times

The activity started with ripple patterns over the whole sky, lasting for almost one hour.

Advances in Space Research

But the magic, doctors say, is superficial, lasting for 8 to 12 hours at a time.

The New York Times - Health

That's partly because car are more reliable and lasting for longer.

The Guardian

They were also asked about the long-term effects – those lasting for more than two weeks.

The Guardian

So to keep a wood lasting for centuries it was constantly renewing itself.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the duration of events, using "lasting for" helps clarify the length of time something continues. For example, "The meeting lasted for two hours" provides a clear indication of the meeting's duration.

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "lasting for" with similar phrases that imply causation or purpose. While "lasting for" indicates duration, phrases like "for the purpose of" or "for the sake of" imply intention or reason, so it's important to use the right phrase in the right context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lasting for" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun, specifying the duration of an action, event, or state. Ludwig provides many examples illustrating this function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Unknown/unmatched sources

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lasting for" is a grammatically correct and very common prepositional phrase used to indicate the duration of an event, condition, or state. As confirmed by Ludwig, its primary function is to specify how long something continues, making it essential for providing temporal context. It appears frequently in scientific, news, and encyclopedia sources, maintaining a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. When writing, ensure clarity by avoiding confusion with phrases indicating causation or purpose, and utilize this phrase to precisely define the length of time something persists.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

enduring for

Focuses more on the capacity to withstand or tolerate something over a period.

continuing for

Emphasizes the uninterrupted progression or extension of something.

persisting for

Highlights the stubborn or prolonged existence of something despite obstacles.

remaining for

Indicates that something stays in a particular state or place for a duration.

prevailing for

Suggests dominance or effectiveness during a specific period.

holding out for

Implies resistance or resilience over a certain time.

being in effect for

Focuses on the period during which a rule, law, or agreement is operational.

holding up for

Indicates the ability of something to remain functional or in good condition for a certain duration.

being maintained for

Highlights the active effort required to keep something in its current state for a specific period.

in existence for

Focuses on the period from the start to the end of something's life.

FAQs

How can I use "lasting for" in a sentence?

You can use "lasting for" to describe the duration of an event, condition, or object. For example, "The effects of the medication are "lasting for several hours"" or "The drought was "lasting for several years"".

What are some alternatives to "lasting for"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "enduring for", "continuing for", or "persisting for". Each alternative carries a slightly different nuance regarding the nature of the duration.

Is it grammatically correct to say "lasting for"?

Yes, "lasting for" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English. It serves to specify the duration of an action or state. Ludwig confirms this with numerous examples.

How does "lasting for" differ from "for lasting"?

"Lasting for" describes a duration, while "for lasting" doesn't form a common or grammatically sound phrase in most contexts. You might use "for lasting results" where "lasting" acts as an adjective describing "results", but that's different from indicating duration.