spanning a year

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "spanning a year" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a duration or period that covers an entire year. Example: "The project will be conducted over a period spanning a year, allowing for thorough research and development."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"Eat, Pray, Love," subtitled "One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia," is essentially a travelogue, spanning a year, which Ms. Gilbert spends in those three countries.

The New York Times

Ms. Soules would prefer that all of those experiences occur in small courses spanning a year, so that students have time to immerse themselves, but she knows that is not possible.

The New York Times

From 1993 to 2004, except for 1996, each season of J-League, spanning a year, was subdivided into two half seasons.

EPJ Data Science

So far they have tested the app on about 1000 Gmail emails spanning a year and got it to start to understand the context and themes of those emails.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

For the first visit, the surveys were open-ended, and individuals could respond to questions about their fish consumption behavior spanning a year-long period.

Environmental Health Perspectives

This has previously been described but in brief, for the 1st visit, the surveys were open-ended and individuals could respond to questions about their fish consumption behavior spanning a year-long period while for the 2nd and 3rd visits, information obtained from the surveys covered the last two weeks prior to the date of the visit; thus they were two-week recall surveys [ 7].

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

Anghel Iordanescu's contract spans a year, aimed at the European Championship qualification in 2016".

The Guardian - Sport

In the United States, gas contracts typically span a year or less.

The New York Times

Divided into the four sections of the title, which mimic the seasons ("Spill" for spring, "Simmer" for summer, and so on), the story spans a year.

The Guardian - Books

The Waterfall method does not allow for mid-course corrections, and the beginning-to-end cycle may span a year or even many years.

Forbes

The design was a retrospective cohort study of program data spanning a three year period (2006 2008).

Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "spanning a year" to describe projects, studies, or events that cover an entire year, providing a sense of duration and scope. For example, "The data collection process spanning a year provided comprehensive insights."

Common error

Avoid using "spanning a year" when referring to activities that occur multiple times within a year but are not continuous or year-long. For example, instead of saying "The marketing campaign spanning a year," specify the duration and frequency if it only runs intermittently.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spanning a year" functions as a descriptive element, typically used to modify a noun or noun phrase. It indicates the duration or extent of something, highlighting that it covers an entire year. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "spanning a year" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to describe events or projects that cover a full year. Ludwig AI validates its accuracy and appropriateness. Predominantly found in News & Media and Scientific sources, it conveys duration and scope. While the phrase is not exceedingly common, understanding its proper use ensures clarity in writing. Remember to use it for continuous, year-long events rather than intermittent occurrences within a year. Alternatives such as "lasting a year" or "covering a year" can also be considered for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

covering a year

Focuses on the scope or extent of the period.

lasting a year

Emphasizes the duration of the period.

a year-long period

Uses a compound adjective to describe the duration.

over the course of a year

Highlights the progression or development during the year.

during a year

A simpler, more direct way to indicate the timeframe.

throughout the year

Implies continuous activity or presence during the year.

for a year

Specifies the duration of an event or activity.

a twelve-month period

More specific and formal, using the exact number of months.

one year in duration

Emphasizes the length of the period more explicitly.

during the past year

Refers specifically to the year immediately preceding the present.

FAQs

How can I use "spanning a year" in a sentence?

You can use "spanning a year" to describe an event, project, or period that extends across a full year. For example: "The research project "spanning a year" provided valuable data."

What are some alternatives to saying "spanning a year"?

Alternatives include "lasting a year", "covering a year", or "a year-long period" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "span a year" instead of "spanning a year"?

While "span a year" might be grammatically understandable, ""spanning a year"" is more commonly used and grammatically appropriate when describing something that extends across a year.

What's the difference between "spanning a year" and "over the course of a year"?

"Spanning a year" emphasizes the duration and reach of the event, whereas "over the course of a year" focuses on the progression or changes that occur during that time.