spanning several weeks

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "spanning several weeks" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe an event, process, or activity that lasts over a period of weeks. For example, "The project will be conducted over a timeline spanning several weeks." Alternative expressions include "lasting several weeks" and "covering several weeks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

In general preparations for surgery of this sort include EEG and video records spanning several weeks.

The Guardian

Students learned about climate change and thermoregulation in two units spanning several weeks.

Computers & Education

A series of brief duologues spanning several weeks, "How to Pray" sees Faith mulling over her prospects as a mother through conversations with, among others, her cat, a casual lover, the lover's young son, a transgender chanteuse who works with Faith at a community soup kitchen, a glib online expert eager to shill products and services, and a clergyman.

The New York Times

The game takes place over a number interviews spanning several weeks, so her appearance varies from one clip to the next and, more importantly, so too do her emotions, sometimes wildly.

Vice

Several varieties were made and/or packaged on different dates, with between 8 and 12 distinct lot codes, spanning several weeks.

BioMed Research International

This is conceptually different from existing measures of cognitive engagement, which are typically administrated at the end of the course or a semester and require students to make summative judgments of how engaged they generally were during a particular course spanning several weeks.

Advances in Health Sciences Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Lawyers for Mr. Roeder, who provided the only testimony for the defense in a trial that has spanned several weeks, are hoping that jurors will consider Mr. Roeder's motive: his growing opposition to abortion, which he deemed criminal and immoral, and his mounting sense that laws and prosecutors and other abortion opponents were never going to stop Dr. Tiller from performing them.

The New York Times

Students engage in open-ended research projects, and each project spans several weeks.

CBE Life Sciences Education

This program can be in the form of a weekend retreat or 2 - 3 hour workshops that span several weeks.

WikiHow

With respect to the assertion that the controlled studies are acute in nature (even though several span several weeks), ignore the results derived from human chamber studies that show that once symptoms are produced at a certain concentration, they are not enhanced with additional exposure duration.

Critical Reviews in Toxicology

These features reduce the utility of visual analysis of gut contents, but lend themselves to isotope analyses capable of quantifying and integrating food items assimilated over periods spanning several days to weeks [ 19].

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "spanning several weeks" to describe events, projects, or processes that unfold or continue for multiple weeks. It provides a clear indication of the duration.

Common error

Avoid using "spanning several weeks" when the duration is clearly defined as a specific number (e.g., 'spanning exactly two weeks'). "Several" implies an indefinite number, usually more than two.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spanning several weeks" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It indicates the duration or extent of something. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its use in various contexts to specify a timeframe.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

56%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "spanning several weeks" is a grammatically sound and useful construction for indicating the duration of an event or process. It's most commonly found in scientific and news contexts, suggesting a neutral register. Ludwig provides examples showing its frequent use to clearly define a timeframe. While alternatives exist, this phrase offers a concise way to express that something occurs over multiple weeks. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

over a period of several weeks

Replaces the verb "spanning" with a prepositional phrase, creating a more descriptive and less direct construction.

extending for several weeks

Substitutes "spanning" with "extending", emphasizing the continuous nature of the duration.

covering a period of weeks

Similar to "over a period of several weeks", but uses "covering" to suggest encompassing a time frame.

lasting a few weeks

Uses "lasting" instead of "spanning" and "a few" instead of "several", softening the exactness of the duration.

over the course of several weeks

Emphasizes the progression and development that occur during the weeks in question.

taking place over several weeks

Focuses on events occurring within the timeframe, rather than the duration itself.

for a number of weeks

Uses a less precise quantifier ("a number of") instead of "several".

throughout several weeks

Similar to "across several weeks", but implies a more thorough coverage of the timeframe.

across multiple weeks

Uses "across" to emphasize the distribution of something throughout the weeks.

during a few weeks

Similar to 'lasting a few weeks' but with a different structure, both use 'a few' to indicate that it is not as exact.

FAQs

How can I use "spanning several weeks" in a sentence?

You can use "spanning several weeks" to describe a process, event, or period that extends over multiple weeks. For example, "The data collection occurred during a period "spanning several weeks"".

What are some alternatives to "spanning several weeks"?

Alternatives include "lasting a few weeks", "over a period of several weeks", or "extending for several weeks", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "spanning several weeks" or "spanning a few weeks"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct and can be used. "Spanning several weeks" suggests a slightly longer or more indefinite period than "spanning a few weeks".

What does the phrase "spanning several weeks" imply about the duration?

The phrase "spanning several weeks" implies that an event or activity lasts for an unspecified number of weeks, generally more than two but not an extended period like months or years.