span of existence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "span of existence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the duration or extent of someone's or something's life or presence in the world. Example: "The span of existence for many species can be drastically affected by environmental changes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Now 69, Mr. Simon is contemplating mortality and the entire span of existence.

The New York Times - Arts

We can do little or nothing to alter our fated span of existence but we determine what we accomplish and what we are remembered for.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

On the other hand, the evolution of the worm nervous system and of the metabolism of the bacterium might have allowed more efficient architectures to emerge, due to the evolutionary time-scales (hundreds of millions of years or more) running much longer than the time-span of existence of the commercial Internet.

Plosone

In the new report, the scientists have expanded the range of likely warming to 1.5-6°.Of course, it is true that short spans of time such as a century are hardly relevant compared with the span of human existence, never mind the earth's, and that climate change per se is not new.

The Economist

"Teach the student about the theory of evolution, when it started off and the life span of our existence".

Evolution: Education and Outreach

(Subject 1942) "Teach the student about the theory of evolution, when it started off and the life span of our existence".

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Poisons have been used for many purposes across the span of human existence, most commonly as weapons, anti-venoms, and medicines.

Wikipedia

How do we show, for instance, 'deep accountability' to fellow human beings to foster wellness, dignity, and capabilities, over and beyond efforts to tackle disease, misery, and pathologies during the span of human existence?

Global Health Action

But in fact we know that the history of the entities containing these relatively most stable genes is composed of many different time scales of stabilisation, so a gene tree provides no reason for assuming a similar general structure of species throughout the evolutionary time span of its existence.

Biology and Philosophy

Mr. Eins himself can span several realms of existence in a single conversation.

The New York Times - Arts

Habitable planets have probably been present in it for at least 10 billion years, which is more than twice the span of Earth's existence.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing abstract concepts or philosophical ideas, use "span of existence" to emphasize the temporal dimension of their being. For example, "The philosopher contemplated the "span of existence" and its implications for morality".

Common error

Avoid using "span of existence" when you actually mean the scope, area, or realm in which something exists. "Sphere of existence" is more appropriate when referring to domains or environments, while "span of existence" refers to duration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "span of existence" primarily functions as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object of a sentence. As supported by Ludwig AI, the phrase is considered grammatically correct and usable in written English. It refers to the duration or extent of something's life or presence.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "span of existence" refers to the duration or extent of something's life or being. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across different contexts. Although it's not as common as other similar phrases, its precise meaning makes it valuable in discussions requiring a focus on duration, particularly in scientific, philosophical, and news-related discussions. While alternatives exist, it's important to differentiate it from phrases like "sphere of existence", which refers to domain rather than duration. Overall, "span of existence" is a useful and accurate phrase for describing the temporal aspect of something's being.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

course of existence

This alternative emphasizes the progression or journey through life or being.

time of existence

This alternative focuses specifically on the temporal aspect of being, highlighting the duration.

length of existence

This alternative directly quantifies the duration of something's being.

scope of existence

This alternative broadens the meaning to encompass the range or extent of something's being, not just its duration.

realm of existence

This alternative implies a specific domain or sphere in which something exists.

period of being

This is a more formal alternative that emphasizes a specific timeframe.

duration of life

This alternative focuses specifically on living entities and their lifespan.

timeframe of being

This suggests a specific and measurable interval of existence.

phase of being

This alternative considers existence as part of a larger cycle or process.

era of being

This suggests existence within a specific, defined period of history or time.

FAQs

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

You can use "span of existence" to discuss the duration or extent of something's life or being. For example: "The study examined the "span of existence" of various species in the ecosystem."

What phrases are similar to "span of existence"?

Similar phrases include "course of existence", "time of existence", and "length of existence". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "span of existence" formal or informal?

"Span of existence" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the overall tone of the writing than the phrase itself.

What's the difference between "span of existence" and "sphere of existence"?

"Span of existence" refers to the duration or timeframe of something's being, while "sphere of existence" refers to the domain, realm, or environment in which something exists. They are not interchangeable.