over a decade

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'over a decade' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to discuss a period of time greater than ten years. Example: Over a decade of hard work has finally paid off.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

The budget has doubled over a decade.

The Economist

Does Medicaid improve health over a decade?

The New York Times

The effect over a decade was large.

The Economist

Taxes here doubled over a decade.

The New York Times

I've taught for over a decade.

The New York Times

"Now I've been here over a decade".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

It was over a decade ago, in a different time.

Huffington Post

Over a decade ago I was a happy man.

TechCrunch

"That's $500 billion over a decade.

The New York Times

Over a decade later, little has changed.

The Guardian

Over a decade later, she is still burning.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "over a decade" to indicate a period lasting longer than ten years, providing a general sense of duration without specifying an exact number of years.

Common error

Avoid substituting "in a decade" for "over a decade". "In a decade" refers to something that will occur within the next ten years, while "over a decade" refers to a period lasting longer than ten years.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "over a decade" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause by specifying a duration of time. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used. It indicates that something has occurred, lasted, or been in effect for more than ten years.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

16%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "over a decade" is a versatile and frequently used adverbial phrase indicating a period of more than ten years. As Ludwig AI points out, it's grammatically sound and appropriate for various contexts, ranging from news and media to scientific and formal communications. Its neutral register and clear meaning make it a reliable choice for expressing duration without requiring precise numerical values. When writing, remember that "over a decade" describes a time longer than ten years and should not be confused with "in a decade", which describes something that will happen within the next ten years.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Over ten years

Slightly more concise, dropping the article 'a'.

More than ten years

Replaces 'a decade' with its numerical equivalent, adding slight emphasis on the duration.

For more than a decade

Similar meaning, but emphasizes the continuous nature of the duration.

Longer than ten years

A more direct and simple way to indicate a duration exceeding ten years.

In excess of ten years

Uses more formal language to indicate a period longer than ten years.

At least ten years

Focuses on the minimum duration, implying it could be longer.

A duration of more than ten years

Formal, emphasizing the span of time.

A period exceeding ten years

A formal and somewhat academic way to express a time frame longer than ten years.

For upwards of ten years

Suggests an approximate duration, slightly informal.

Ten-plus years

An informal and concise way of stating a duration of at least ten years.

FAQs

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

You can use "over a decade" to describe events, trends, or processes that have occurred for more than ten years. For example, "The company has been operating internationally for "over a decade"".

What are some alternatives to saying "over a decade"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "more than ten years", "for more than a decade", or "at least ten years".

Is it more formal to say "over a decade" or "more than ten years"?

"Over a decade" is generally considered more common and neutral. "More than ten years" is equally correct but can sound slightly more formal or precise in certain contexts. Ultimately, it depends on the specific writing style and audience.

What's the difference between "in a decade" and "over a decade"?

"In a decade" refers to something that will happen within the next ten years, whereas "over a decade" refers to a period of time lasting longer than ten years. They describe opposite temporal perspectives.