over the course of the study

USAGE SUMMARY

"over the course of the study" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the period of time during which a study was conducted. For example, "Over the course of the study, researchers observed a significant increase in the number of participants."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"The cities that we've covered have cleaned up considerably over the course of the study".

The New York Times - Health

Over the course of the study, 2,984 of the participants died.

The New York Times

Over the course of the study, 4,760 of the women enrolled developed breast cancer.

The New York Times

About 2,000 of the men developed Type 2 diabetes over the course of the study.

The New York Times

Over the course of the study 134 participants died.

Science Magazine

However, transformation activity towards 1,1,1-TCA was lost over the course of the study.

Journal of Contaminant Hydrology

Figure 4 displays the individual components shown in graph one over the course of the study.

EJNMMI Physics

In panel b heart rates increased in the septic groups over the course of the study.

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

Topography-based reading comprehension improved over the course of the study for all three participants.

Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders

No clear improvement in psychosis or in cognition was observed over the course of the study.

Schizophrenia Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Figure  1 is a mosaic plot of the modalities utilized over the course of the study.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing scientific reports, use "over the course of the study" to clearly define the period during which observations or measurements were taken, ensuring clarity and avoiding ambiguity regarding the timeframe of your findings.

Common error

Ensure that your study's timeframe is clearly delineated from other related research. Avoid statements that could inadvertently include data or observations from external studies when using phrases like "over the course of the study".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "over the course of the study" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate when something occurred. It specifies the timeframe within which an action, event, or observation took place, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

73%

News & Media

21%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "over the course of the study" is a grammatically correct and very common prepositional phrase primarily used to provide a temporal context within research and analysis. It serves to clarify the period relevant to findings and observations. As indicated by Ludwig, its register is generally formal and scientific, lending itself well to academic papers and research reports. It's crucial for delineating study timeframes and should be used to avoid ambiguity. Related phrases like "during the study period" and "throughout the study" offer similar meanings and are useful alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

During the study period

Focuses on the time frame of the study, emphasizing the period during which events occur.

Throughout the study

Highlights continuous action or observation from the beginning to the end of the study.

Within the duration of the study

Emphasizes that something happened inside the study's timeframe.

In the time frame of the study

Similar to "during the study period", focusing on the temporal boundaries.

Over the span of the research

Uses "span" to suggest a breadth or extent of time covered by the research.

During the research process

Highlights the study as a procedure and emphasizes events happening as part of that process.

While the study was being conducted

States the action alongside the running research.

As the study progressed

Indicates change or development coinciding with the ongoing nature of the research.

In the course of the investigation

A more formal alternative, replacing "study" with "investigation".

Following the study protocol

Emphasizes adherence to the study's pre-defined procedures during the study's run.

FAQs

How can I use "over the course of the study" in a sentence?

You can use "over the course of the study" to specify when certain events or observations occurred within a research project. For example, "Over the course of the study, patient's symptoms improved."

What phrases are similar to "over the course of the study"?

Similar phrases include "during the study period", "throughout the study", or "within the duration of the study". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "during the course of the study" instead of "over the course of the study"?

Both "during the course of the study" and "over the course of the study" are acceptable. The choice often comes down to personal preference, as they convey essentially the same meaning.

How does "over the course of the study" differ from "at the beginning of the study"?

"At the beginning of the study" refers to a specific point in time, the start, while "over the course of the study" refers to the entire duration or a period within it.