nearly a decade

USAGE SUMMARY

"nearly a decade" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It means "almost ten years." You can use it when talking about a period of time that is close to ten years but not exactly ten years. Example: The company's profits have been steadily increasing for nearly a decade.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

The experiment lasted nearly a decade.

The New York Times - Arts

Fast forward nearly a decade.

The New York Times

It took nearly a decade.

The New York Times - Sports

The war continued for nearly a decade.

The New York Times

The war lasted for nearly a decade.

The Washington Post

She was a practicing landscape architect for nearly a decade.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

It was nearly a decade ago.

The New Yorker

Joy Xi emigrated to Canada nearly a decade ago.

The New York Times

Nearly a decade later, his cancer returned.

Nature

Nearly a decade later, Omalu's message has won.

The Guardian - Sport

He and Limonov parted ways nearly a decade ago.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nearly a decade" to indicate a period of time that is close to ten years, but not exactly ten years. This adds a degree of approximation without sacrificing clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "nearly a decade" when you need to be precise. If the duration is exactly ten years or significantly different, use more specific language.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nearly a decade" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause, indicating the duration or extent of an action or state. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's grammatically correct and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "nearly a decade" is a grammatically sound and widely used phrase to indicate a period of approximately ten years. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English. Its neutral register makes it appropriate for various contexts, from news reporting to academic writing. While conveying an approximation, it's essential to consider more precise language when exactness is required. When precision is needed, alternatives such as "almost ten years" or "close to ten years" can be considered.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost ten years

Emphasizes the approximation to ten years.

close to ten years

Highlights the proximity to the ten-year mark.

approximately ten years

Indicates a rough estimate of the duration.

around ten years

Suggests a less precise estimation of the period.

about ten years

Similar to 'around', indicating an imprecise duration.

in the vicinity of ten years

A more formal way of expressing an approximate duration.

nearing a decade

Focuses on the approach to the ten-year mark.

approaching ten years

Like 'nearing', it emphasizes the progress towards ten years.

close on a decade

A more informal way of indicating that a period is almost a decade.

getting close to a decade

Indicates that the period is increasingly nearing ten years.

FAQs

How can I use "nearly a decade" in a sentence?

You can use "nearly a decade" to describe something that has lasted or been in progress for approximately ten years. For example, "The project has been under development for "nearly a decade"."

What can I say instead of "nearly a decade"?

You can use alternatives like "almost ten years", "close to ten years", or "approximately ten years", depending on the context and the level of precision you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "nearly a decade" in formal writing?

Yes, "nearly a decade" is suitable for formal writing as it provides a clear and concise way to express an approximate duration. However, if precision is crucial, consider using more specific language.

What is the difference between "nearly a decade" and "a decade"?

"Nearly a decade" implies a period that is close to, but not exactly, ten years. "A decade" refers to a period of precisely ten years. Using "nearly" adds a degree of approximation.