lasting many decades

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lasting many decades" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that endures or remains relevant over a long period of time, typically spanning several decades. Example: "The traditions of the festival have been lasting many decades, bringing together generations of families."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Some social movements, lasting many decades, may enlist hundreds of thousands of members.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The aim of the movement, according to Indian government officials, is the overthrow of the Indian state through a protracted armed campaign lasting many decades.

The Guardian

Even periods of peace lasting many decades always gave way to more conflict.

Huffington Post

The disease has a prodromal period lasting many decades and is eminently treatable if caught early, thereby averting cirrhosis and liver cancer [ 12, 13].

BMC Family Practice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

His enjoyed a relationship with a dancer, Kamala Shastri, that lasted many decades but in 1981 they split.

Independent

But a copyright lasts many decades longer than a patent, and that’s the cudgel lawyers are using against downloadable objects.

Forbes

The operating lifetime will last many decades and throughout that time the organisation will need to adapt to the changing roles, and be refreshed to cater for the effects of aging in the workforce.

Infrastructure and Methodologies for the Justification of Nuclear Power Programmes

Still, studies worldwide show that oil spills generate coastal impacts that can last many decades.

Environmental Health Perspectives

It's been such a long, steady transition that you could arbitrarily pick almost any moment in the last many decades.

The New York Times

Some may argue it is why the United States has been so consistently dominant over the course of the last many decades at the Olympic level.

The New York Times

The source region and propagation mechanism of low latitude whistlers (Geomag. lat. <30°) have puzzled scientific community for last many decades.

Advances in Space Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lasting many decades" to emphasize the prolonged duration of a phenomenon, impact, or tradition, particularly when contrasting it with shorter-term events or trends. For instance, "The effects of this policy are expected to be lasting many decades, influencing future generations."

Common error

Avoid using "lasting many decades" when the context implies a shorter timeframe. Overstating the duration can diminish credibility and weaken the message. Be precise and choose language that accurately reflects the expected timeframe.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lasting many decades" primarily functions as a modifier, typically describing the duration of a noun. It provides a temporal aspect, indicating that the subject has persisted or is expected to persist for a considerable time. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lasting many decades" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe something that endures for a significant period of time, typically spanning several decades. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's appropriate for various contexts, particularly in news, science, and encyclopedic content. It serves to emphasize the long-term impact or duration of a subject, and can be replaced by alternatives like "enduring for decades" or "spanning several decades" depending on the nuance desired. It's important to avoid overstating the duration when using this phrase to maintain accuracy and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

enduring for decades

Replaces "lasting many" with "enduring for", emphasizing the endurance aspect but maintaining the core meaning.

spanning several decades

Substitutes "lasting many" with "spanning several", highlighting the time range covered but with slightly different phrasing.

continuing for decades

Replaces "lasting many" with "continuing for", focusing on the uninterrupted continuation over a long period.

persisting for decades

Changes "lasting many" to "persisting for", suggesting a more tenacious or resistant continuation.

going on for decades

Uses a more informal phrasing than "lasting many decades", replacing it with the idiomatic "going on for".

remaining for decades

Focuses on the state of "remaining" in place or effect, rather than the action of "lasting".

holding strong for decades

Implies resilience and strength over time, adding a layer of meaning not present in the original phrase.

existing for decades

Simply states existence over a long duration, a more neutral and less emphatic alternative.

prevailing for decades

Suggests triumph or dominance over time, adding a connotation of success or widespread acceptance.

maintaining its relevance for decades

Emphasizes sustained relevance, changing the focus from mere duration to continued significance.

FAQs

How can I use "lasting many decades" in a sentence?

You can use "lasting many decades" to describe the duration of various phenomena. For example, "The impact of climate change is expected to be "lasting many decades"." or "The cultural traditions have been "lasting many decades", passed down through generations."

What are some alternatives to "lasting many decades"?

Some alternatives include "enduring for decades", "spanning several decades", or "continuing for decades". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it redundant to say "lasting for many decades"?

While "lasting for many decades" isn't strictly redundant, it can be streamlined to just "lasting many decades". The "for" is often implied. However, including "for" is grammatically correct and sometimes used for emphasis.

What's the difference between "lasting many decades" and "lasting for centuries"?

"Lasting many decades" implies a duration of several decades, typically more than two. "Lasting for centuries" indicates a much longer timeframe, spanning hundreds of years. The choice depends on the specific length of time you want to convey.