little a decade

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "little a decade" is not correct in written English.
It seems to be a misphrasing and does not convey a clear meaning. Example: "It has been a little over a decade since we last met."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Even fruit flies have been called upon to join the fight.But now, for the second time in a little over a decade, a little blue pill comes to the rescue of humanity.

The Economist

"It's been a little over a decade now.

The Guardian

They've gone up 70% in little over a decade.

The Guardian - Opinion

A little over a decade ago, our small island was still occupied by the Indonesian military.

The New York Times

As little as a decade ago, this ecosystem did not exist.

The New York Times - Science

A little over a decade ago, Jim Hedges, a retired investment banker, began aggressively acquiring photos from the Warhol Foundation.

The New York Times

A little over a decade later, Mr. Nakoula, while at work on his movie, was arrested for bank fraud.

The New York Times

Both formed a little over a decade ago and commemorated their tenth anniversaries with proud, accomplished albums released last year.

The New York Times - Arts

Last year, the number reached 1,905,182 — a more than twentyfold increase in little over a decade.

The New York Times

That bunch had quadrupled the national debt in little over a decade.

The New York Times

In little over a decade, police presence in schools has gone from occasional to routine.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the phrase "little a decade", opt for clearer alternatives such as "almost a decade" or "nearly a decade" to ensure accurate communication.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "little a decade" as it is grammatically incorrect. Instead, use established phrases like "a little over a decade" or "almost a decade" to convey the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "little a decade" is grammatically incorrect and lacks a clear grammatical function. It doesn't adhere to standard English sentence structure. As Ludwig AI points out, it seems to be a misphrasing.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "little a decade" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in both written and spoken English. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's a misphrasing that lacks clarity. More appropriate alternatives include "almost a decade", "nearly a decade", or "a little over a decade", depending on the intended meaning. Given its incorrect nature, the phrase has no established usage patterns or authoritative sources. Remember to use correct grammar to ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost a decade

Indicates a period nearing ten years, but not quite reaching it.

nearly a decade

Similar to "almost a decade", implying a time span close to ten years.

close to a decade

Suggests a time frame that is approximately ten years.

about ten years

A more direct way of expressing an approximate ten-year period.

roughly ten years

Emphasizes the estimation of a ten-year duration.

ten years approximately

Reverses the structure of 'approximately ten years', maintaining the same meaning.

a decade or so

Indicates a period of about ten years, with a slight margin of error.

around a decade

Implies a time span that is in the vicinity of ten years.

in the last decade

Referring to events that occurred during the most recent ten-year period.

within the last decade

Specifies that something happened at some point during the past ten years.

FAQs

How should I correctly phrase a time period close to ten years?

Use alternatives such as "almost a decade", "nearly a decade", or "about ten years" depending on the context.

What is the grammatical issue with the phrase "little a decade"?

The phrase is not grammatically correct in standard English. The correct phrasing would include a preposition and a different word order, such as "a little over a decade".

Can "little a decade" be considered acceptable in any context?

No, the phrase "little a decade" is generally considered incorrect and should be avoided in both formal and informal writing.

What are some formal alternatives to using "little a decade"?

For more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "approximately ten years", "close to a decade", or "nearly ten years".