may span between

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "may span between" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a range or extent that covers two or more points or areas. Example: "The project timeline may span between six months to a year, depending on the resources available."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Segmental positions depend on the chromosomal location of the SNPs, but the distance between two adjacent segments may span about 4kb on average.

BMC Cancer

We searched these reads using BLASTn with the terminal 300 nts of each of these organelle scaffolds to identify reads that may span junctions between pairs of contigs, and then manually used these reads to order and orient these scaffolds and, in some cases, to supply short stretches of intervening sequences.

BMC Genomics

Within each country, interviews may span over a few months.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

But we must also understand that compromise may span the boundaries of different interests between the GTC and a university and yet still remain within the boundaries of the existing opposing interests.

Triple Helix

Vorbis packets may span page boundaries.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Courses may span 10 to 15 weeks.

Science Magazine

Connections may span no-bond indicators.

Journal of Cheminformatics

A student's composition work may span several pages.

Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning

In the 1990s it spanned between 21percent and 300 percent.

Huffington Post

Each gene spans between 10 16 kb.

Human Molecular Genetics

The overall study period spanned between January 2009 and June 2012.

BMC Veterinary Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing ranges, consider using simpler alternatives like "may range from" or "can vary between" for improved clarity and conciseness.

Common error

Avoid using "may span between" when "may span" is sufficient. The word "between" can be redundant if the context already implies a range or connection between two points. Using "may span" is shorter and cleaner.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may span between" functions as a modal verb phrase, indicating a potential range or connection between two points. Ludwig AI, states it’s grammatically correct, although its usage can sometimes be redundant.

Expression frequency: Missing

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "may span between" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate a potential range or connection. However, it's important to consider whether the word "between" is redundant, as the simpler phrase "may span" often provides greater clarity. Ludwig AI notes that while grammatically sound, the inclusion of "between" can sometimes be unnecessary. When writing, consider alternative phrases like "might range from" or "could extend from" for variety and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might range from

Expresses a possible range, replacing "span" with "range" and "may" with "might" for a slightly weaker possibility.

could extend from

Suggests a potential extension or duration, substituting "span" with "extend" and "may" with "could" to indicate possibility.

can vary from

Indicates a possible variation or difference, replacing "span" with "vary" and "may" with "can" to denote potential variation.

may extend across

Replaces "span between" with "extend across" to emphasize the coverage or reach across a particular area or duration.

might encompass from

Uses "encompass" instead of "span" to suggest a potential inclusion or coverage from a specific point.

can stretch from

Emphasizes the potential length or reach, replacing "span" with "stretch" to highlight the extension.

may fluctuate between

Highlights the potential fluctuation or oscillation between two points, focusing on the variation rather than the coverage.

could fluctuate from

Emphasizes the possible variation in numerical or qualitative measurement.

might oscillate between

It underlines a periodic movement of any measurement between different states.

can oscillate from

It shows the action of moving in a repetitive way from a starting point of measurement.

FAQs

How can I use "may span between" in a sentence?

Use "may span between" to indicate a possible range or connection between two points. However, consider if the word "between" is necessary, as "may span" is often clearer. For instance, instead of saying "The project timeline may span between six months to a year", you can simply say "The project timeline may span six months to a year".

What can I say instead of "may span between"?

You can use alternatives like "might range from", "could extend from", or "can vary from" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "may span between" or "may span"?

"May span" is generally preferred for its conciseness. "May span between" isn't incorrect, but the inclusion of "between" can sometimes be redundant, depending on the context. If you are defining the limits of something, "may span" is often the better choice.

What's the difference between "may span between" and "may extend across"?

"May span between" suggests a range or connection, while "may extend across" implies covering a particular area or duration. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the connection or the coverage. The use of "may extend across" focuses on the reach over a specific region.