significant amounts of time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "significant amounts of time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing durations that are considerable or noteworthy in context, often in relation to activities or processes. Example: "The project took significant amounts of time to complete due to unforeseen challenges."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Going outside, though, and spending significant amounts of time there, is worth it.

The New York Times

Both English and Welsh speakers in modern Wales already spend significant amounts of time squinting at words wondering which language they're reading – tacsi?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Meanwhile, cloud-based accounting services can liberate significant amounts of time for core business tasks and even, says Joe Taylor, make book keeping and general accounting fun.

The Guardian

No matter how well a player bounces back, spending significant amounts of time away from the game invariably damages his or her career.

The Economist

Company executives and advisers also spent significant amounts of time negotiating with BC Partners, an investment firm that owns the equivalent of 22 percent of Office Depot's stock.

The New York Times

She spent significant amounts of time in a half-dozen cities and towns, from London to Madras, following her parents, her husband and, at times, her own whim — leading, as often as not, to mishap and misery.

The New York Times - Books

"The implications for the cognitive and social development of future generations of adults in this society are potentially serious when one considers that most Romanian children spend significant amounts of time in some form of institutional setting," they wrote.

The New Yorker

"It's disheartening to think that this is an issue that I have to devote significant amounts of time to, that we are filing lawsuits in the way that we are," Holder told me in December.

The New Yorker

"Not only do I spend significant amounts of time in the gallery," she said, "but since I install the exhibits and maintain the space myself, I am familiar with its every nook and cranny.

The New York Times

• "The target spends significant amounts of time online every day," said Christian Dietrich, director for the Pepsi-Cola client business at the Dallas office of Tribal DDB, "not just for utilitarian reasons but for interest-based exploration".

The New York Times

But employers have cut back on alternatives that would enable employees to spend significant amounts of time away from full-time work, like career breaks or moving from part time to full time and back again.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "significant amounts of time", ensure the context clearly indicates what activity or process requires this time. For example, "Developing the software required significant amounts of time due to unforeseen complexities."

Common error

Avoid using "significant amounts of time" without specifying what consumes the time. For example, instead of saying "The project took significant amounts of time", specify what activities were time-consuming: "Data analysis consumed significant amounts of time during the project."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "significant amounts of time" functions primarily as a noun phrase that modifies a verb, indicating the duration that an action or process requires. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is usable in written English to describe noteworthy durations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

12%

Science & Research

3%

Social Media

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "significant amounts of time" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that functions as a noun phrase, typically to describe the duration required for a specific activity. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in English writing. It is commonly found in news, science, and wiki sources, indicating a neutral to formal tone. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly specifies what consumes this time to avoid vagueness. Alternatives such as "substantial period of time" or "considerable duration" can be used for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

substantial period of time

Replaces "amounts" with "period", emphasizing the length of time rather than the quantity.

considerable duration

Focuses on the length of the time, using "duration" instead of "amounts of time".

extensive time frame

Highlights the overall time span involved.

lengthy period

A more concise way to express a long duration.

appreciable time

Uses "appreciable" to indicate a noticeable amount of time.

notable time investment

Emphasizes the effort or resources spent over a period.

protracted timeframe

Suggests a longer, perhaps even tedious, duration.

extended period

Simply indicates that the period in question is longer than usual.

a good deal of time

A more colloquial expression indicating a substantial amount of time.

meaningful timeframe

Suggests that the time is not only long, but also impactful or important.

FAQs

How can I use "significant amounts of time" in a sentence?

Use "significant amounts of time" to emphasize that a particular activity or process requires a considerable duration. For example, "Completing the research paper required "significant amounts of time" for data collection and analysis".

What are some alternatives to "significant amounts of time"?

You can use alternatives like "substantial period of time", "considerable duration", or "extensive time frame" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "significant amount of time" or "significant amounts of time"?

While "significant amount of time" can be used for singular, uncountable activities, ""significant amounts of time"" is more appropriate when referring to multiple tasks or a process with various stages requiring substantial time. In other words, "significant amount of time" is appropriate for monolithic and continuous processes, while ""significant amounts of time"" is appropriate for discrete, multiple processes.

What's the difference between "significant amounts of time" and "considerable amounts of time"?

Both phrases are similar, but "considerable amounts of time" often emphasizes the perceived value or impact of the time spent, whereas ""significant amounts of time"" highlights the duration itself as being noteworthy.