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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
span over a period
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
"span over a period" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a length of time or event which covers a certain length of time. For example, "The pandemic has spanned over a period of a year."
✓ Grammatically correct
Science
News & Media
Academia
Alternative expressions(19)
extend across a duration
last for a duration
cover a timeframe
remain for a while
spans
take a breather
stopping for a while
leave for a while
take a break
wait for a while
retain for a while
rest for a moment
pause for a while
persist for a period
recharge your batteries
rest for a while
pause for a moment
remained for a while
rest for a bit
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
1 human-written examples
While this is ideal, it would be logistically very difficult to implement in this study, particularly as the data collection span over a period of two decades and began at a time when retinal photography was not freely available as a clinical tool.
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
59 human-written examples
intervals spanned over a period of 106 days was used by Stathopoulos and Karlaftis [30].
The MBBS program of Dow Medical College spans over a period of 5 years, with an additional year of internship.
Science
Each DOCEE station spans over a period of 30 minutes where the examiner goes through a standardized check list to assess the student's performance.
Science
For this purpose, we envision a dual cross-sectional and longitudinal strategy by collecting genomic information from the most common alterations in a cohort of 70 CLL patients spanning over a period of 12 years (2001 2012).
Science
Several investigators have shown a decline of A1C ranging from 0.5 to 1.2% after resistance exercise alone (16) or resistance exercise combined with a weight loss regimen (15) spanning over a period of 3 6 months, whereas others (13, 14) failed to show any improvement after 8 16 weeks of training.
Science
The unintended N-of-1 design that spanned out over a period of 24 weeks demonstrated improvements in negative symptoms while the patient was on eszopiclone and worsening of these symptoms while unintentionally being off eszopiclone treatment.
Science
The ESI Post-Baccalaureate RESearch EducatIon PREPram (ESisPREP) is open to recent college graduates interested in a Ph.D. and will span over a two-year period for students applying to the Economics program.
Academia
Aftershocks usually span over a considerably longer period compared to the foreshock activity.
Science
In 2014, the Singapore national psychiatry residency programme has developed its first CAP residency training which would span over a one-year period instead of the typical two years [ 47].
Our study spans over a long period of time; during 30 years it is obvious that the treatment and management of critically ill patients and of ABM have changed a lot.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When using "span over a period", ensure the subject clearly defines what is being measured or extended across that time. For example, "The study spanned over a period of five years", clearly indicating the study's duration.
Common error
Avoid using past tense if the period is ongoing. Use "spans" instead of "spanned" if the event or activity is still in progress.
Source & Trust
80%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "span over a period" functions as a verb phrase combined with a prepositional phrase. It indicates the duration or extent of something, describing how long an event, activity, or study lasts. As Ludwig AI shows, it is used to explain the time range of projects, studies, or events.
Frequent in
Science
35%
News & Media
35%
Academia
30%
Less common in
Formal & Business
0%
Wiki
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "span over a period" is grammatically correct and usable, as indicated by Ludwig. It's used to describe the duration of an event, project, or study, indicating the length of time it covers. While "spanning a period" is a more common alternative, "span over a period" remains valid and can be useful in various contexts. Though less frequent than alternatives like "cover a timeframe", it is acceptable and mostly used in scientific, news, and academic publications. Be mindful of verb tense to ensure grammatical accuracy, and ensure that subject that defines what's being measured is clearly mentioned. While less frequent than its alternatives, it is still usable and correct.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
extend across a duration
Uses "extend across" instead of "span over" to convey the idea of covering a time period.
cover a timeframe
Replaces "span" with "cover" and "period" with "timeframe" for a more concise expression.
last for a duration
Focuses on the length of time something exists, using "last for" instead of "span over".
encompass a period of time
Emphasizes inclusion within the timeframe, substituting "span" with "encompass".
occur during a specific timeframe
Shifts focus to the timing of an event within the period.
take place across a time span
Uses "take place" to describe the occurrence and "time span" instead of "period".
transpire throughout a phase
This option uses slightly elevated language, swapping "happen" with "transpire" and "period" with "phase".
continue for an interval
Simple shift of vocabulary to reflect that something will continue to occur for a certain interval
go on during a stage
Switching the vocabulary in order to reflect a more coloquial style
unfold across a stretch
The image is of something slowly unwrapping within a time frame
FAQs
What does "span over a period" mean?
It means to extend or stretch across a particular duration of time. It's often used to describe how long something lasts or covers.
How can I use "span over a period" in a sentence?
For example, you could say, "The project "spanned over" three years, involving numerous phases and collaborations."
Which is more appropriate: "span over a period" or "spanning a period"?
"Spanning a period" is more concise and commonly used. "Span over a period" isn't wrong, it can be perceived as slightly less direct.
What are some alternatives to "span over a period"?
You can use alternatives such as "cover a timeframe", "extend across a duration", or "last for a duration" depending on the specific context.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
80%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested