spans around

USAGE SUMMARY

"spans around" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when describing someone or something that is turning or moving in a circular motion, covering a wide area or range. Example: The lighthouse beam spans around, illuminating the entire coastline.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

The collection spans around 35 years and includes poems written during Orwell's school years, and later in Burma where he spent five years between 1922 and 1927.

Independent

It spans around 10 km2.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

The database of 57 manually annotated audio recordings spans around 115 min in duration.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

Our sample spans around 30 two-digit industries in manufacturing sector, such as food, beverage, textile, electronic products, transport equipment, ordinary machinery, and special purposes equipment, and all 31 provinces and municipalities in China.

Frontiers of Business Research in China

The area involved in the RFP that Sidewalk Labs will work with the government coalition to develop spans around 800 acres (though 12 acres are specified for the initial project), and is one of the largest underdeveloped urban areas in any North American city, making it a good target for Sidewalk's ambitious vision, which involves building smart cities holistically from the very start.

TechCrunch

The same zero commission offer is also being made available through the firm's newly launched stocks and shares ISA (Individual Savings Accounts), which offers investors access to thousands of ISA eligible stocks across the world's leading exchanges - including those in the U.S, Britain and Germany that spans around 1,800 stocks currently - as well as exchange traded funds (ETFs).

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

It came and span around, everyone opened it and then they started going and filling up that lorry," he said.

The Guardian

And we can't forget the great Sir Stanley Matthews, often referred to as the 'first gentleman of soccer', whose exemplary sportsmanship during a career spanning around 700 games for Stoke, Blackpool and England saw him go booking-free.

The Guardian - Sport

They span around, impossible to control.

BBC

In spite of being a labor-intensive structure to build, Qanat still poses an efficient choice when compared with deep-wells that have shorter life span (around 20 years) and require frequent replacement and maintenance.

Environmental Systems Research

Looking at the closed cycle of influence is a surprising discovery if one looks, for instance, at a culture with more than 5,000 years of history which spans only around 21 closed cycles of influence in building its culture.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "spans around" to indicate an approximate range, duration, or area. It's particularly effective when precision isn't critical, and the focus is on conveying a general sense of scale.

Common error

Avoid using "spans around" when precise measurements are required. If exact figures are available, using "spans around" can undermine the accuracy of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spans around" primarily functions as a verbal phrase indicating the approximate extent, range, or duration of something. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. As shown in Ludwig's examples, it is often used to describe areas, time periods, or numerical ranges.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "spans around" is a grammatically correct and commonly used verbal phrase to indicate an approximate range or extent. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for describing areas, durations, or quantities where precision isn't critical. It is most frequently used in Scientific and News & Media contexts. For formal writing, consider using more precise language. When you want to provide a broad idea of a dimension, "spans around" is a reliable choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extends approximately

Emphasizes the approximate reach or length.

covers roughly

Focuses on the area or topic encompassed.

encompasses approximately

Highlights inclusion and approximation.

ranges across nearly

Stresses variation and a wide scope.

stretches across roughly

Emphasizes physical extension and approximation.

reaches to approximately

Focuses on the endpoint or limit of extension.

includes about

Highlights what is contained within a defined range.

approximates

Simplifies the concept to a rough estimate.

is in the vicinity of

Indicates an approximate location or range.

is estimated to be

Focuses on the estimation of a size, duration, or amount.

FAQs

How can I use "spans around" in a sentence?

Use "spans around" to describe an approximate range or duration, such as "The project timeline "spans around" six months" or "The affected area "spans around" 100 square miles".

What's a good alternative to "spans around"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "extends approximately", "covers roughly", or "encompasses approximately".

Is it correct to use "spans around" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "spans around" is best suited for neutral or informal contexts. In formal writing, consider more precise alternatives or rephrase for clarity.

What's the difference between "spans" and "spans around"?

"Spans" indicates a precise or definite range, whereas "spans around" suggests an approximate or estimated range. For example, "The bridge spans 100 feet" implies accuracy, while "The bridge "spans around" 100 feet" indicates an estimate.