span of a career

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'span of a career' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the entirety of someone's professional life - typically when talking about their experience and successes over a long period of time. For example, "Marilyn Monroe's success was impressive, considering the limited span of her career".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"I would be the happiest guy on earth if I did it over the span of a career," Immelman added.

The New York Times - Sports

Multiply that difference over the span of a career and that's the home you can never buy, or several children's college educations.

The New York Times

The average person holds 12 jobs during the span of a career, but how big a career jump are most of these moves?

MIT Technology Review

It's worth noting that the Nobel Prize in medicine is often given for work done decades before or over the span of a career, not yesterday's news.

Harvard University

Most importantly, it requires the humility to realise that in the long span of a career, none of us are immune and those doctors whom we help today could end up saving our life tomorrow.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

In the span of a professional career, two years seems to hardly make dent.

Forbes

"But there is a long life to live after the span of a gymnastics career.

Huffington Post

The unique circumstances of Foreign Service life that vastly complicate jobs for spouses arise from the fact that over the 30-year span of a Foreign Service career, the employee is typically assigned to a succession of foreign posts, usually in two- or three-year stretches, living close to the local culture and functioning in the local language.

Los Angeles Times

Time, as it does in baseball, had telescoped, from the next game to the next season, and then, suddenly, to the span of an entire career.

The New Yorker

She also captures the full span of an extraordinary career, ranging from Leonard Cohen, cheerleader (really) to Leonard Cohen, hedonist, to Leonard Cohen, monk, to Leonard Cohen, septuagenarian smash.

The New York Times - Books

Sitting in a recruiter's office at the Allentown Business School, his mother by his side, Muscavage was impressed by a salesman who boasted of a placement rate of "over 95%." Once he enrolled, Muscavage says, the school often emphasized the impact an advanced degree would have on future earnings–a $1 million benefit for holders of a B.A. over the span of an average career.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "span of a career" to emphasize the overall breadth of experiences and accomplishments someone has accumulated, rather than just the duration. For example, highlight how varied a professional's contributions have been across different roles or projects.

Common error

Avoid using "span of a career" when you intend to highlight a single, remarkable achievement. This phrase is best suited for describing the collective impact and overall progression over time, not a singular event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "span of a career" functions as a noun phrase that often acts as an adverbial modifier, specifying the timeframe over which certain events, achievements, or developments occur. Ludwig's AI confirms the correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "span of a career" is a grammatically sound and conceptually useful expression for describing the breadth and duration of someone's professional life. Ludwig's AI confirms that it is correct and usable in written English. While its frequency isn't exceptionally high, it appears across various reputable sources, including news outlets, academic publications, and scientific journals. As such, it’s best suited for providing context regarding the overall professional trajectory, highlighting accumulated experiences and insights over time. Consider using related phrases like "course of one's career", or "professional lifetime" for stylistic variety, and focus on the breadth of the professional life when using the term.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

course of one's career

Highlights the progression and journey through a career.

career duration

Focuses on the length of the career, omitting the scope.

professional lifetime

Uses a more metaphorical term for career, emphasizing the entire working life.

career timeline

Focuses on the chronological progression of events and positions in a career.

career trajectory

Emphasizes the path and direction a career takes over time.

years of employment

Quantifies the career in terms of time spent employed.

length of service

Specifically refers to the time spent in a particular job or field.

professional journey

Highlights the personal growth and experiences gained throughout a career.

period of employment

Similar to years of employment but focuses on the continuity of the employment.

working life

A broader term that encompasses all periods of employment.

FAQs

How can I use "span of a career" in a sentence?

You can use "span of a career" to describe someone's overall professional journey, for example: "Over the "span of a career" in medicine, Dr. Smith contributed significantly to cancer research".

What are some alternatives to "span of a career"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "course of one's career", "professional lifetime", or "career duration".

Is it correct to say "during the span of his career"?

Yes, "during the "span of his career"" is grammatically correct and commonly used to refer to events that happened throughout someone's professional life.

What's the difference between "span of a career" and "length of a career"?

"Span of a career" implies both the duration and the variety of experiences, while "length of a career" simply refers to how long someone has worked. Consider the nuanced difference in meaning before using one or the other.