over some time

USAGE SUMMARY

'over some time' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that something has happened, or will continue to happen, gradually over a period of time. For example: "John's business has been successful over some time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

The fund said that €37 billion would be handed over some time in December to the Spanish government's own banking rescue fund, the FROB, to cover the needs of BFA-Bankia, Catalunya Banc, NCG Banco and Banco de Valencia.

The New York Times

We tried for a while, over some time.

The New York Times - Sports

It didn't happen in a single moment but distilled over some time.

The Guardian

"It reflects serious and outstanding concerns about the leadership, governance and progress in the health board over some time.

The Guardian

"The discovery shows it did exist, but that it had been covered over some time in the 1920s," he said.

The Guardian - Books

"This is a collection of what he's written over some time," a spokesman for the EU president said.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

You've probably already been thinking this over for some time.

WikiHow

Our shift was already over — it had been over for some time.

The New Yorker

Modeling the input delay as a transport Partial Differential Equation, we prove asymptotic stabilization of the system state, that is, robust delay compensation, providing that the average L2-norm of the delay time-derivative over some time-window is sufficiently small and that the average time between two discontinuities (average dwell time) is sufficiently large.

Automatica

If others can emulate its success, the game will not be over for some time yet.

The Economist

"The Kardashian craze has been over for some time now.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "over some time" to indicate a gradual process or a development that occurs incrementally, rather than instantaneously. For example: "The city's infrastructure improved "over some time" thanks to consistent investment."

Common error

Avoid using "over some time" when a precise timeframe is known or more appropriate. Instead of saying "The project was completed "over some time"", specify: "The project was completed over three months".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "over some time" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate the duration or progression of an action or state. It specifies that something occurs gradually or develops continuously, referencing Ludwig's numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "over some time" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase that describes a gradual process or development. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's used to express duration or progression, most commonly in News & Media and Scientific contexts. When using the phrase, ensure it accurately reflects a gradual process, and avoid using it when a specific timeframe is available. Consider alternatives like "after a while" or "eventually" depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

after a while

Implies that something happens after a non-specific amount of time has passed.

as time passes

Highlights the gradual progression of time.

with the passage of time

Similar to "as time passes", but more formal.

for a period

Focuses on a specific, though potentially undefined, duration.

over a duration

Specifies a measured or known length of time.

during a span

Implies a more continuous and extended duration.

in the long run

Focuses on the ultimate outcome or result after an extended timeframe.

in due course

Emphasizes the expectation of something happening eventually, with less focus on the immediate duration.

in the fullness of time

Implies a significant amount of time and eventual realization.

eventually

Simply suggests that something will happen at some point in the future.

FAQs

How can I use "over some time" in a sentence?

Use "over some time" to express that something happens or develops gradually. For instance, "His skills improved "over some time" with consistent practice".

What are some alternatives to "over some time"?

Alternatives include "after a while", "eventually", or "in due course", depending on the specific context and desired emphasis.

Is it better to use "over a period of time" or "over some time"?

"Over a period of time" is more formal and precise, while "over some time" is more casual. Both are grammatically correct, but the best choice depends on the context and the desired tone.

What does "over some time" imply about the process being described?

It implies that the process is gradual and unfolds incrementally rather than happening suddenly or instantly.