minutes on end

USAGE SUMMARY

"minutes on end" is a correct phrase in written English.
It is generally used to describe a period of time that continues for a long period. For example, "I was talking to her for minutes on end, trying to explain the situation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

He absorbed the chef's famous perfectionism, manifest in the spotless order of the Noma kitchen and in a tableau that was repeated for minutes on end one recent night: a half-dozen rapt cooks folding and placing scores of individual leaves of wood sorrel just so over hand-shaved beef loin for Mr. Redzepi's herbaceous version of steak tartare.

The New York Times - Food

"It seemed to last for minutes on end — possibly ten," said one witness, who was parking her scooter a few yards away rom the Charlie Hebdo offices when the Kouachi brothers fled the scene.

Vice

The Telegraph wrote, "Clad in leopard-skin trousers and a leather jacket, she might sit in silence for minutes on end, puffing on a cigar, after one of her students had finished reading out an essay".

The New York Times

Normal human beings who find themselves in these circumstances (one man steals a laptop to give to another man) don't sit quietly at a bar, staring at each other anxiously, brooding about existence for minutes on end before initiating a conversation with one another.

Huffington Post

I watch the people playing there, making slow, deliberate movements with the use of walkers or canes, staring down at the board for minutes on end, seemingly without comprehension, saying loudly to one another, "What?! What?!" I look at them and think, The whole world is at their wrinkled fingertips!

The New Yorker

featured litanies of names for minutes on end.

The New York Times - Arts

The lovely aftertaste, virtually indelible, continues for minutes on end.

The New York Times

Possibly the most maddening section comes when Ms. Djordjevich just claps for minutes on end.

The New York Times - Arts

For minutes on end, the only sound is the muffled thud of feet against floorboards.

The New Yorker

Two or three times each night For minutes on end They sang.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

"Big corporations send lots of people out on the road, and if you can save them 20 minutes on one end of the flight and 20 minutes on the other end, that adds up to a lot of productivity," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "minutes on end" to emphasize the continuous and often tedious nature of an activity or situation. For instance, "The engine sputtered for minutes on end, creating a tense atmosphere."

Common error

Avoid using "minutes on end" when a simple description of duration suffices. Overusing it can dilute its impact. For example, instead of saying "She spoke for minutes on end", consider "She spoke for several minutes" if the continuity isn't crucial.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "minutes on end" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. It describes the duration of an action or state, emphasizing its continuous and uninterrupted nature. As per Ludwig's examples, it's often used to describe actions that are sustained or repetitive over a period.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Academia

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "minutes on end" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase to describe a continuous duration. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s used to emphasize the uninterrupted nature of an action or state. While versatile, its neutral register makes it suitable for various writing styles, with the primary context found in News & Media. When using the phrase, it is important to emphasize continuity rather than simply stating the duration. Consider "for several minutes" or "for a sustained period" as alternatives if emphasis on continuity is not required. Remember, "minutes on end" adds an emotional weight to the timeframe, implying that something persisted longer than expected or desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for several minutes

This alternative is a more direct and less emphatic way of expressing a period of several minutes.

continuously for minutes

This alternative focuses on the uninterrupted nature of the activity or event.

uninterrupted for minutes

Similar to "continuously", this highlights the lack of interruption during those minutes.

for a few minutes straight

This alternative emphasizes the continuous nature of the duration.

for a continuous period of minutes

This option adds slight emphasis and formality by including the word 'period'.

for a stretch of minutes

This alternative highlights the continuous nature of the time period.

repeatedly for minutes

This alternative shifts the focus to repeated actions happening over the span of minutes.

for a sustained period

This option is more formal and suggests a more prolonged duration than just minutes.

for a prolonged moment

This alternative broadens the timeframe, using "moment" to describe something that lasts longer than a typical moment.

for what seemed like an eternity

This alternative emphasizes the perceived length of the duration, often implying it felt longer than it actually was.

FAQs

How can I use "minutes on end" in a sentence?

Use "minutes on end" to describe a situation that continues uninterrupted for several minutes, often implying a sense of monotony or tedium. For instance, "The baby cried for "minutes on end" until his mother picked him up."

What's a good alternative to "minutes on end"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "minutes on end" include phrases like "for several minutes", "for a prolonged moment", or "continuously for minutes".

Is it correct to say "moments on end" instead of "minutes on end"?

While "moments on end" could be understood, "minutes on end" is the more common and accepted phrase for describing a continuous period. Using "moments on end" might sound unusual or less precise.

What does "minutes on end" emphasize in a sentence?

"Minutes on end" emphasizes the continuous, often monotonous, nature of an event or activity. It suggests that something went on without interruption, possibly to a tedious or exasperating degree. Unlike simply stating "for five minutes", it adds an emotional dimension.