snippets of time

USAGE SUMMARY

'snippets of time' is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to brief moments or segments of time. For example, "As I looked back at my life, I realized how quickly it had gone by, with only snippets of time for the important things".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Snippets of time, perhaps, but they are persistent and cumulatively corrosive.

The Guardian - Money

The hours lost to delays are made up of lots of snippets of time – a few minutes here and there occasionally punctured by a horrendous delay.

The Guardian - Money

"They are so much simpler and easier to convey on a smaller screen and in much shorter snippets of time," he said.

The New York Times - Tech

She continued: "Stan is shooting 'Chambermaid' and doing press for 'Road to Perdition.' So we're just grabbing snippets of time when we can.

The New York Times

Just from watching people who pull out their BlackBerrys, it seems to us that most of them are hiring it to help them be productive in small snippets of time that otherwise would be wasted, like reading e-mails while waiting in line at airports.

Forbes

It's easy to be alluring for little snippets of time.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

During the last week of National Poetry Month in 2014, we featured snippets of Times articles you can use to create and share your own short poems.

The New York Times

Further, you'll have wasted that snippet of time at the end of day that could have been spent organizing a plan for tomorrow.

Huffington Post

He then animated the collection of images in a film that serves as a day-to-day visual diary of this snippet of time. .

Vice

The gussied-up baby, the record-breaking fish… but outside of a half-dozen randomly beautiful instances throughout the year (never the expected ones), isn't the desire to document distracting from the snippet of time we're so desperate to preserve?

Huffington Post

The whole world could see one snippet of time and that will be all they will ever remember of you.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "snippets of time" to describe short, often interrupted, periods that can be used for specific tasks or activities. For example, planning to read in "snippets of time" during your commute.

Common error

Avoid using "snippets of time" when referring to planned, continuous blocks of time. "Snippets" implies incidental or fragmented moments, not dedicated periods.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "snippets of time" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often acting as the subject or object in a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It describes small, discrete units of time.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "snippets of time" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It describes short, fragmented periods of time and is commonly found in news, academic, and general contexts. When writing, use "snippets of time" to refer to brief, often interrupted, periods available for specific tasks and be mindful of overemphasizing brevity when a longer or more continuous time is intended. Alternatives like "fragments of time" or "fleeting moments" can provide nuance. Keep in mind its relatively neutral register and ensure that it fits in the overall tone and style of the text. As indicated by Ludwig's examples, understanding the connotation of interruption and fragmentation of "snippets of time" will allow a writer to employ its power in an expressive way.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fragments of time

Uses "fragments" to emphasize the broken or incomplete nature of the time periods.

portions of time

Replaces "snippets" with "portions", suggesting divided sections of time.

chunks of time

Employs "chunks" to imply larger, less refined segments of time.

parts of time

Substitutes "snippets" with "parts", indicating individual components of time.

passages of time

Uses "passages" to refer to segments of time elapsing or progressing.

bits of time

Replaces "snippets" with "bits", emphasizing small, discrete amounts of time.

pieces of time

Employs "pieces" to suggest individual, possibly disconnected, amounts of time.

shards of time

Substitutes "snippets" with "shards", conveying a sense of fragmentation and possibly negativity.

fleeting moments

Shifts the focus to the ephemeral nature of the moments, highlighting their brief duration.

brief intervals

Uses more formal terms, "brief" and "intervals", to describe short periods of time.

FAQs

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

"Snippets of time" refers to short, often unexpected, periods available for an activity. For example, "I use "snippets of time" during my lunch break to learn Spanish".

What are some synonyms for "snippets of time"?

Alternatives to "snippets of time" include "fragments of time", "portions of time", or "fleeting moments", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "snippets of time" formal or informal?

The phrase "snippets of time" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. Its suitability depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and tone of the writing.

What's the difference between "snippets of time" and "moments in time"?

"Snippets of time" suggests brief, often interrupted, periods, while "moments in time" refers to specific instances or significant points. "Moments in time" /s/moments+in+time may be longer or more impactful than "snippets of time".