over thirty years

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "over thirty years" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it to refer to a period of time that is more than 30 years long. For example, "My family has lived in this town for over thirty years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Corporate specialist for over thirty years.

The New York Times

"I've been practicing law over thirty years," Reynolds said.

The Guardian

The company was active for over thirty years.

The New York Times

For over thirty years Lady Mendl worked for her living.

The New Yorker

Over thirty years, I calculated that £1 generates £1.18 in savings.

Independent

Dr. Stander taught business management at Rider University for over thirty years before retiring in 2001.

The New York Times

Prior to that he served as a US foreign service officer for over thirty years.

The New York Times

She worked in the financial services industry for over thirty years.

The New York Times

The disapperance of Bontecou has been an art-world mystery for over thirty years.

The New Yorker

Hubert & Rose live in Dublin; they have been married over thirty years.

The New Yorker

For over thirty years they were travel partners enjoying worldwide adventure that included all seven continents.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When specifying durations, consider your audience. "Over thirty years" is suitable for general use. For more formal writing, use phrases like "more than three decades".

Common error

Avoid using "over thirty years" when a precise duration is known. If you know it's exactly 35 years, state the exact number for accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "over thirty years" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase modifying verbs or adjectives. It specifies a duration of time exceeding three decades, indicating how long an action has taken place or a state has existed. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

20%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "over thirty years" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to denote a period longer than three decades. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread application across various domains. It functions adverbially, providing context about the duration of an event or state. While versatile, it's best to use precise durations when available. Consider alternatives like "more than three decades" for formal writing. The phrase appears frequently in news, scientific articles, and general discussions, as confirmed by Ludwig's analysis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more than three decades

Emphasizes the duration using a different unit of time measurement (decades) and a different quantifier (more than).

exceeding thirty years

Uses a more formal verb "exceeding" to indicate a duration longer than thirty years.

in excess of thirty years

Similar to "exceeding thirty years", but uses the prepositional phrase "in excess of" for a formal tone.

thirty-plus years

A more informal and concise way of expressing a duration longer than thirty years using "plus".

longer than three decades

Rephrases the duration using the comparative form "longer than" and the unit of time as decades.

a period spanning over thirty years

This is a more descriptive phrase which frames the duration as a span of time.

for three decades and beyond

Highlights the continuation beyond thirty years using the phrase "and beyond".

thirty years and more

Rearranges the phrase for a slightly different emphasis.

at least thirty years

Emphasizes the minimum duration, implying it could be longer.

a thirty-year-plus period

Uses "thirty-year-plus" as a compound adjective, modifying "period".

FAQs

How can I use "over thirty years" in a sentence?

You can use "over thirty years" to indicate a period exceeding three decades, as in "The company has been in business for "over thirty years"".

What are some alternatives to saying "over thirty years"?

Alternatives include "more than three decades", "exceeding thirty years", or "thirty-plus years", depending on the desired level of formality.

Is it more accurate to say "more than thirty years" or "over thirty years"?

Both "over thirty years" and "more than thirty years" are generally acceptable. "Over" is slightly more informal, while "more than" is more precise.

When should I use "for over thirty years" versus "in over thirty years"?

Use "for "over thirty years"" to indicate duration, as in "She worked there for over thirty years." "In over thirty years" is less common but can specify a timeframe until an event happens, as in "It won't happen in over thirty years."