span down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "span down" is not commonly used in written English and may not be considered correct.
It could be interpreted as referring to a range or extent that decreases or narrows, but it lacks clarity and standard usage. Example: "The data points span down the chart, indicating a decline in performance."

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

The sample was span down in an Eppendorf centrifuge at 13 krpm for 10 min to minimize the chance of introducing small magnetic micropaticles, which were not completely removed by the magnet and still were present in the solution.

Plosone

Protein A/G beads were span down and washed twice with ice cold PBS supplemented with 0.5 mM vanadate.

Angiogenesis

Villi were then briefly span down, the supernatant removed and RNA extracted from the samples using the RNeasy Plus Mini Kit (QIAGEN, Valencia, CA).

BMC Genomics

For this purpose, algae were span down by centrifuging at 1,000  g for 3 min, half of the culture medium was removed and algal pellets were resuspended in the remaining volume.

BMC Systems Biology

After 6 days, pre-cultured algae were span down by centrifuging at 1,000  g for 3 min and washed once in the targeted culture medium by successive resuspension and centrifugation to eliminate pre-culture medium.

BMC Systems Biology

The lead changed hands six times over a three-minute span down the stretch, with Durant personally matching every Knicks point.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

The Supercharger network actually spans down both coasts from Seattle to San Diego and Connecticut to the tip of Florida.

TechCrunch

Then beads were spanned down, re-suspended with loading buffer and protein complex was analyzed by western blot.

Plosone

Cells were spanned down and pellets resuspended gently in 450 μl of sterile ddH2O, 50 μl of 3.5 N NaOH and incubated for 5 min at room temperature.

EMBO Journal

In March of that year floods over-topped it by approximately 10 feet and five of the bridge's seven spans went down, girders were broken, piers sheared through, and some swept into the river.

Wikipedia

Her connections spanned Buckingham Palace, Downing Street, Hollywood and the Kennedys.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "span down", ensure the context clearly indicates a downward extent or range. If clarity is paramount, consider alternatives like "extend downward" or "range downwards".

Common error

Avoid relying heavily on "span down" in formal academic or professional documents. While acceptable, it might be perceived as less precise than established alternatives like "range down" or "extend downward".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "span down" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of extending or ranging in a downward direction. Ludwig examples show its use in describing data points spanning down a chart or a network spanning down coasts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "span down" is used to describe something extending or ranging in a downward direction. While considered acceptable, as Ludwig AI points out, it is recommended to use it with caution, especially in formal writing, where alternatives like "range downwards" or "extend downward" might be more precise. It appears most frequently in science and news contexts, with a neutral register. The key is to ensure clarity and appropriateness for the intended audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

range downwards

Replaces "span" with "range" to emphasize the extent of something in a descending direction.

extend downward

Focuses on the direction of extension rather than the overall coverage.

cover descendingly

Highlights the act of covering in a downward manner.

stretch below

Suggests a spatial relationship where something reaches to a lower position.

go downwards

A simple and direct way of expressing downward movement or extension.

reach below

Indicates the act of reaching or extending to a position underneath.

descend across

Emphasizes the action of descending while also spanning an area.

fall downwards across

Suggests a falling motion that covers a certain range.

drop across

Implies a dropping motion that spans a certain area.

flow downwards across

Describes a fluid-like movement covering an area downwards.

FAQs

How can I use "span down" in a sentence?

You can use "span down" to describe something that extends or covers an area in a downward direction. For example, "The data points "span down" the chart, showing a decline".

What are some alternatives to "span down"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "range downwards", "extend downward", or "cover descendingly".

Is "span down" grammatically correct?

While the phrase "span down" is used, it may not be considered fully grammatically correct by all. It's often more clear to use alternatives like "range downwards".

In what contexts is it appropriate to use "span down"?

"Span down" is found in scientific and news contexts, but be mindful of the potential for ambiguity. In formal settings, consider alternatives for increased precision.