more than a decade

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "more than a decade" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to a period of time that is greater than 10 years. Example sentence: We have been friends for more than a decade.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Most are more than a decade old.

The New York Times - Books

For more than a decade, the "C.S.I".

The New York Times

For more than a decade, Iraqi Pres.

Encyclopedia Britannica

More than a decade passed.

The New Yorker

More than a decade of war.

The Guardian

"It stretches back more than a decade".

The New York Times

It's more than a decade late".

The Guardian

The debate has gone on for more than a decade.

The New Yorker

More than a decade later, construction still had not started.

The New Yorker

For more than a decade, English shipping stopped growing.

The New Yorker

(It took more than a decade for Rosenthal to relent).

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "more than a decade", ensure the context provides a clear reference point or event to which the duration is relative. This adds clarity and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "more than a decade" with a present perfect continuous tense when a simple past tense would be more appropriate. For example, instead of "They have been living there for more than a decade now, and they are still happy", use "They lived there for more than a decade."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more than a decade" functions as an adverbial phrase indicating duration. It modifies a verb or clause, specifying how long something has lasted or existed. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

17%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "more than a decade" is a common and grammatically correct way to express a period exceeding ten years. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's versatile and appears frequently in various contexts, including news, science, and general discussions. While alternatives like "over a decade" or "at least a decade" exist, "more than a decade" remains a clear and widely understood choice for indicating extended duration.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

over a decade

This alternative maintains a very similar meaning, simply replacing "more than" with "over".

at least a decade

This phrase uses "at least" emphasizing the minimum duration.

longer than ten years

This alternative phrase is more explicit, stating the duration in years.

a decade or more

This version adds the possibility of the duration being even longer.

exceeding ten years

This phrase is more formal than the original, using "exceeding" instead of "more than".

spanning over a decade

It emphasizes that duration is over the years.

in excess of ten years

This is a more formal and emphatic version.

a period exceeding ten years

This adds a more descriptive tone by explicitly mentioning "period".

for upwards of ten years

This alternative uses "upwards of" to indicate a duration that is at least ten years.

ten-plus years

This is a more concise and informal alternative.

FAQs

How can I use "more than a decade" in a sentence?

You can use "more than a decade" to indicate a period longer than ten years. For example, "The research project lasted "more than a decade"." or "She had been working at the company for "more than a decade" when she decided to retire."

What phrases can I use instead of "more than a decade"?

Alternatives include "over a decade", "longer than ten years", or "at least a decade", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "over a decade" instead of "more than a decade"?

Yes, "over a decade" is a perfectly acceptable and commonly used alternative to "more than a decade". They are largely interchangeable.

What's the difference between "almost a decade" and "more than a decade"?

"Almost a decade" implies a period close to ten years but less than it, while "more than a decade" signifies a period exceeding ten years. They represent opposite ends of the ten-year mark.