period in question

USAGE SUMMARY

"period in question" is correct and usable in written English.
It is generally used to refer to a specific time frame or event from the past. For example, "The murder occurred during the period in question."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

The period in question might, for example, be 12 months, 18 months or two years".

The Guardian

Paul Gulden Jr. managed Pax World's Growth Fund during some of the period in question.

The New York Times

Of course, things happened during the period in question that probably made American women less happy.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

For much of the period in question, Draghi was head of the Bank of Italy.

The Guardian - Business

In the period in question, the bank sold around 349,000 products worth £7bn to 295,000 customers.

The Guardian - Money

The notion of 'influence peddling' is vague, particularly since Lula was a private citizen during the period in question".

The Guardian

These simple calculations, repeated for every time period in question, quickly can predict the development of complex systems.

The New York Times - Science

They do this by going to nearest cupboard, clenching their fists tightly and thinking of the time period in question.

The Guardian

There were a couple of exceptional broadband outages during the period in question which undoubtedly influenced the broadband figures".

The Guardian - Money

But a Lloyds spokesman said: "The group recognises its oversights during the period in question and apologises".

Independent

During the period in question, almost 3.4 million borrowers entered repayment, and more than 238,000 defaulted on their loans.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "period in question" when you need to clearly and neutrally refer to a specific timeframe that is relevant to your discussion. It is particularly useful in formal writing where precision is important.

Common error

Avoid using "period in question" in casual conversation or informal writing. Simpler phrases like "at the time" or "then" are often more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "period in question" functions as a determiner phrase, specifying a particular duration under consideration. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples where it modifies nouns related to time or events occurring within a defined timeframe.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "period in question" is a common and grammatically sound way to refer to a specific timeframe under discussion. Ludwig AI's analysis reveals its frequent use in news, science, and formal business contexts. While it's appropriate for formal writing, simpler alternatives may be preferable in casual settings. Ludwig also provides numerous examples, demonstrating the phrase's versatility and clarity in various situations. The "aiResponseStatus" confirms the phrase as correct and usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

time span in question

Similar to the original phrase, but using "time span" instead of "period".

relevant timeframe

Focuses on the relevance of the timeframe to the topic at hand.

pertinent time frame

Highlights that the time frame is important and directly related to the subject.

time under consideration

Highlights that the time is being actively evaluated or discussed.

specified time period

Indicates a clearly defined duration that has been previously mentioned.

duration in focus

Emphasizes the period that is being specifically examined.

timeframe in discussion

Suggests the period is currently being talked about or analyzed.

interval under review

Emphasizes the act of formally examining the particular time.

historical timeframe

Refers to a time period of historical significance.

moment under scrutiny

Specifies a particular instant or brief period that is being carefully analyzed.

FAQs

How can I use "period in question" in a sentence?

Use "period in question" to refer to a specific timeframe under discussion, for example, "During the "period in question", sales increased by 20%."

What phrases are similar to "period in question"?

Alternatives include "relevant timeframe", "time under consideration", or "specified time period", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "period in question" or "time in question"?

"Period in question" and "time in question" are very similar, but "period in question" is generally more common and often used in formal contexts. The choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

What is the difference between "period in question" and "era"?

"Period in question" refers to a specific, often limited, timeframe being discussed, while "era" refers to a broader, more general span of time characterized by specific features or events. For example, you might say "During the "period in question", the company faced financial difficulties", but "the Victorian era".