over a lifetime

USAGE SUMMARY

"over a lifetime" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to a period of time in a person's life, for example: "The average person spends over a lifetime trying to find a balance between career and family life."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Over a lifetime, things even out.

The Guardian - Opinion

But over a lifetime, it beggars you.

The Guardian

Over a lifetime, that adds up to substantial loss.

Independent

Almost overnight, skills honed over a lifetime seem tired, passé.

The New York Times

Over a lifetime, the unhealthful effects of sitting add up.

The New York Times - Magazine

But over a lifetime, expenses can have a devastating effect.

The New York Times

And the benefits of employment mount over a lifetime.

The New York Times

But you can't maintain that over a lifetime.

Independent

It allows people to smooth their spending over a lifetime.

The Economist

In addition, commercial vehicles get more use over a lifetime.

The New York Times

Rather, he honed and perfected it over a lifetime.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "over a lifetime" to emphasize the cumulative effect of small changes or events that occur repeatedly throughout a person's life.

Common error

Avoid using "over a lifetime" when referring to events that happen only once or during a specific period within a person's life. This phrase is most effective when describing continuous or repeated occurrences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "over a lifetime" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate the duration or timeframe in which an action, process, or state occurs. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is suitable to refer to a period of time in a person's life.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "over a lifetime" is a commonly used and grammatically correct prepositional phrase that functions as an adverbial modifier. According to Ludwig AI, it's used to describe the cumulative impact of events, changes or experiences from birth to death. As the many examples found with Ludwig illustrate, the phrase is most often found in News & Media and Scientific contexts, indicating its wide acceptance across various writing styles. When using this phrase, it's important to consider how small and gradual changes can accumulate and create effects over a long duration.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

throughout one's life

Emphasizes the continuous aspect of something happening from birth to death.

during one's existence

Focuses on the entire period of being alive, similar to "over a lifetime".

in the course of a life

Highlights the journey and progression of events throughout a person's life.

across the lifespan

Refers to the entire duration of life, often used in scientific or academic contexts.

during a person's life

A more general way of indicating events happening at some point in someone's lifetime.

in a lifetime

Implies a possibility or occurrence within the span of a single life.

over the long term

Focuses on the extended period, although not exclusively tied to a human life.

across many years

Highlights the accumulation of time and experiences, but not necessarily encompassing an entire life.

from cradle to grave

A more figurative expression encompassing the entirety of life, birth to death.

through the years

Refers to the progression of time, without necessarily implying a full lifetime.

FAQs

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

Use "over a lifetime" to describe cumulative effects or experiences that accrue throughout a person's entire life. For example, "The effects of smoking accumulate "over a lifetime"."

What are some alternatives to using "over a lifetime"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "throughout one's life", "during one's existence", or "across the lifespan".

Is it correct to say "during a lifetime" instead of "over a lifetime"?

While both phrases are grammatically correct, ""over a lifetime"" typically emphasizes the cumulative or ongoing nature of something, whereas "during a lifetime" simply refers to a period within someone's life.

What kind of events are best described using "over a lifetime"?

"Over a lifetime" is suitable for describing the long-term impacts of habits, the gradual accumulation of wealth or skills, or the cumulative effect of environmental factors on health.