since a time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "since a time" is not correct and not commonly used in written English.
It is unclear and does not convey a specific meaning, making it difficult to use effectively in context. Example: "I have been waiting since a time that I cannot remember."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

They had heard it since a time before memory.

The Economist

The eight years since, a time of unremitting warfare, has had no similar opportunity for taking stock.

The New York Times

Since a time filter was applied over a time range where the DTF values are different from the mean, the DTCOR value must be recomputed.

Harvard University

It all arises from the sometimes deadly conflict waged between Mr Thaksin and his opponents, since a time before he was deposed by military coup in 2006.

The Economist

I have not seen a cowrie this size since a time in the airport in Tahiti, in the early 1980's.

The New York Times - Travel

It has been all but impossible to reach east Aleppo in the year and a half since, a time in which the divided city's agony has grown even worse.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

I've never since known a time so charged with promise.

The Guardian

More than a million Twitter followers have disappeared since a Times investigation about the proliferation of fake accounts.

The New York Times

However, this variable is only used in the logit regression since a time-invariant variable cannot be included in the fixed-effects models.

Health Economics Review

Because indicates cause and effect whereas since indicates a time frame.

WikiHow

t a, time since expansion, /, no demographic expansion was detected.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "since a time" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and more common alternatives like "since then", "for some time", or "for a while" to enhance clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Don't use "since a time" when a simpler phrasing will do. Instead of saying "I haven't seen him since a time before the pandemic", say "I haven't seen him since before the pandemic" or "I haven't seen him in a long time".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "since a time" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a temporal reference. However, according to Ludwig AI, it is not considered correct English. Instead, alternative phrases should be used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "since a time" appears in various contexts, including news, scientific articles and academia, it is not considered standard or correct English, according to Ludwig AI. It functions as a prepositional phrase aiming to indicate a temporal reference, but its use is discouraged due to grammatical issues. More appropriate alternatives include "since then", "for some time", or "for a while", which provide clearer and more grammatically sound ways to express similar meanings. It's important to prioritize precision and correctness in both formal and informal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

since then

Replaces "a time" with a more direct reference to a point in the past.

for some time

Indicates a duration without specifying a precise start.

for a while

Similar to "for some time", but often implies a shorter duration.

since a period

Substitutes 'period' for 'time', offering a slightly more formal tone.

since an era

Implies a longer duration or a more significant historical period.

since a point

Highlights a specific moment serving as the starting reference.

from a time

Changes the preposition to emphasize the origin in time.

since an age

Similar to "since an era" indicating a long duration.

since a season

Uses "season" to refer to a period of time, implying cyclical events.

since a phase

Refers to a stage or period in a process or development.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "since a time"?

Common alternatives include "since then", "for some time", or "for a while", depending on the intended meaning and context.

Is "since a time" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "since a time" is not standard English. It's better to use more precise and common phrases like "since then" or "for some time".

How can I use "since then" correctly?

"Since then" refers to a specific point in the past. Example: "The company changed its policy in 2020. "Since then", profits have increased significantly."

What's the difference between "since a time" and "for some time"?

"Since a time" is not a standard expression, while "for some time" is a correct and commonly used phrase indicating a duration. For example: "I have been working on this project "for some time"."