shifts of time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shifts of time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe changes or transitions in time, often in contexts related to storytelling, history, or personal experiences. Example: "The novel explores the shifts of time that affect the characters' lives and decisions throughout the years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

I find these radical shifts of time and person difficult, and, though willing to suspend disbelief, am uncertain when to do so.

The Guardian - Books

Like the Forster, it was a spiritual adventure story, written with rhapsodic excitement, engulfing its mid-Victorian characters in huge shifts of time, culture, place and authorial tone, while also setting them on a course of moral evolution.

The Guardian

The show's storybook sensibility is enhanced by projections of drawings by Ms. Smith on what looks like an outsize strip of torn paper, which fluidly convey shifts of time and setting.

The New York Times

All this is told from multiple first- and third-person perspectives, with frequent shifts of time and place, using present-tense immediacy and past-tense formality, in a narrative as carefully constructed and laboriously pieced together as a Lego Taj Mahal.

The New York Times - Books

Its shifts of time and perspective become less purposeful and organised, and as the characters start coming to uneasy terms with their new neighbours - a damaged potential father-figure called Trevor and an assortment of officious commune-dwellers - a lot of the energy goes out of Carey's storytelling.

The Guardian - Books

In many respects, "Savage Lands" is a good old-fashioned (that is, slow and deliberate) 19th-century novel, with all the weight of material detail and all the unexpected turns of plot and shifts of time and place that we expect from such productions.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

In this paper, one can observe that the translation of time scales is just a particular case of the shift of time scales.

Advances in Difference Equations

As mentioned, the Tangomat GMT carries a house-made NOMOS Glaschütte Xi movement, which offers a world timer complication that allows shifting of time zones with a single press of a button on the case.

TechCrunch

Both on screen and off, the shifting of time is essential in the telling the tale of "Fireflies In The Garden".

Huffington Post

Could the surmounting political urgencies, the tremors of earth that growing wasteland, the vestiges of materials, bones, and boats in shores and art alike—, the calls for responsibility and ecology all be heard beckoning for this shift of time focus?

Vice

Another plausible explanation for the upward shift of time estimates in our study's results is the gamers' knowledge of their tendency to underestimate time.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "shifts of time" to describe narrative techniques in literature or film where the story moves non-linearly between different periods.

Common error

Avoid using "shifts of time" when referring to simple scheduling adjustments. The phrase implies larger, more significant temporal displacements rather than simple rescheduling.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shifts of time" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It typically acts as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence, denoting alterations or movements between different temporal states or periods. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

36%

Academia

21%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "shifts of time" is a noun phrase used to describe alterations or transitions between different points in time. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically correct and usable in a variety of contexts, most commonly in news, science, and academic writing. While the phrase is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, it is primarily used to denote significant temporal displacements rather than simple scheduling adjustments. Related phrases include "temporal transitions" and "alterations in time". Remember to use "shifts of time" to describe narrative techniques in literature or film where the story moves non-linearly between different periods, avoiding its use for simple scheduling changes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

temporal transitions

Replaces 'shifts' with 'transitions' and 'time' with the adjective 'temporal', emphasizing a change from one state of time to another.

temporal variations

Replaces 'shifts' with 'variations', focusing on differences occurring across time.

changes in temporal sequence

Specifies the 'shifts' as changes within a temporal sequence, adding clarity.

alterations in time

Substitutes 'shifts' with 'alterations', highlighting modifications in the state of time.

time displacements

Focuses on the concept of something being moved or rearranged in time.

variations in time frames

Emphasizes changes specifically related to different periods of time.

temporal transformations

Highlights a more dramatic and fundamental change in time.

time alterations

A more concise variation using 'alterations' to describe changes in time.

chrono-shifts

A more concise and technical variation using a prefix related to time.

time deflections

Suggests a deviation or turning away from a normal course of time.

FAQs

How can I use "shifts of time" in a sentence?

You can use "shifts of time" to describe alterations in narrative structure, historical periods, or personal experiences. For example: "The novel explores the "shifts of time" that affect the characters' lives."

What are some alternatives to "shifts of time"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "temporal transitions", "temporal variations", or "alterations in time".

Is "shifts of time" formal or informal?

"Shifts of time" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it is often found in literary or academic discussions. Its appropriateness depends on the specific tone and audience of your writing.

What's the difference between "shifts of time" and "passage of time"?

"Shifts of time" implies discrete changes or movements between different periods, while "passage of time"/"passage of time" refers to the continuous flow of time. The former is about specific alterations, the latter about ongoing progression.