over a span of

USAGE SUMMARY

"over a span of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to refer to a period of time, typically longer than a single day or week. For example, "Over a span of two years, the research team made significant progress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The fees increase over a span of several years.

The New York Times

"You've got to win those four tournaments over a span of four months".

The New York Times - Sports

Not over a span of 10 months involving two years as Tiger Woods might do today.

The New York Times - Sports

For comparison, Britain has 75,000 megawatts in operation, built over a span of decades.

The New York Times

They have occurred over a span of some 8 or 10 years to our knowledge.

The New York Times

One such study monitored couples over a span of several nights.

The New Yorker

Morrell, he said, should have offered them gradually over a span of time.

The New York Times

McCarten published three Talk stories over a span of four years about the Lichee Tree.

The New Yorker

Through a series of speech permutations over a span of centuries, this name became Istanbul.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Hay and grain were increased gradually over a span of several weeks.

The New York Times

Several of the United States games have been decided over a span of a few minutes.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "over a span of", ensure the time period is clearly defined and relevant to the context. This helps provide a clear understanding of the duration being discussed.

Common error

Avoid using "over a span of" when referring to very short durations (e.g., minutes) unless emphasizing a change or event that occurred within that brief time. It is more suitable for periods spanning days, weeks, months, or years.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "over a span of" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or verb by specifying the duration or time period during which an event, process, or state occurs. Ludwig shows examples across varied contexts, reinforcing its role in indicating temporal extent.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "over a span of" is a common and versatile prepositional phrase used to specify the duration of an event or process. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used in written English. The phrase appears frequently in news and media, as well as in scientific contexts, indicating its neutral register and broad applicability. When employing this phrase, ensure that the time period is well-defined and relevant. While "over a span of" is suitable for longer durations, consider alternatives like "within" or "during" for shorter timeframes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

over the course of

Uses "course" instead of "span", focusing on the progression through time.

during a period of

Replaces "span" with "period", emphasizing the duration of time.

across a period of

Replaces "over" with "across", slightly shifting the perspective on the duration.

spanning a duration of

Changes the structure to use "spanning" as a verb, actively describing the duration.

throughout a duration of

Emphasizes the continuity of an event during a specified length of time.

in a timeframe of

Similar to "within a timeframe of", but slightly more concise.

within a timeframe of

Substitutes "span" with "timeframe", highlighting the limits of the duration.

for a duration of

Focuses directly on the length of time.

lasting a period of

Highlights the length of something.

extending across

Focuses on the idea of something covering a length of time, rather than existing within it.

FAQs

How can I use "over a span of" in a sentence?

You can use "over a span of" to indicate the duration of an event or process. For example, "The project was completed "over a span of" three months."

What are some alternatives to "over a span of"?

Some alternatives include "during a period of", "over the course of", or "throughout a duration of", depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "over a span of" and "in a span of"?

"Over a span of" indicates the duration across which something occurs, while "in a span of" is less common and might be used to emphasize that something was completed within a specific timeframe.

Can "over a span of" be used for very short durations, like minutes or hours?

While grammatically correct, "over a span of" is typically used for longer durations (days, weeks, months). For shorter durations, phrases like "within a few minutes" or "during the hour" may be more appropriate.