spans from

USAGE SUMMARY

"spans from" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the range of something. For example, "The study spans from the mid-19th century to the present day."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I should note that Field's relevant work spans from about 2000 forward.

SEP

BAM's generous retrospective spans from the 16-mm.

The New Yorker

Treviño's background spans from speechwriting for the Bush administration to conceiving and co-founding RedState.

The Guardian

The report into his activities reveals his offending spans from 1955-2009.

The Guardian

The Sottsass oeuvre spans from a spoon to a city -- or almost.

The New York Times

The claimed fatality range for those civilians spans from 310 to 548.

The Guardian

HHI spans from nearly 0 to 10,000, as close.

Financial Innovation

The dry season spans from June to September.

Ecological Processes

The frequency range spans from 20 Hz to 2 MHz.

Nanoscale Research Letters

The project spans from January 2012 to December 2014.

Ecological Processes

According to  Onakomaiya et al. (1992), the wet season spans from March to October and peaks in June/July while the dry season spans from November to February.

Applied Water Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "spans from" when you want to indicate the breadth or scope of something, whether it's a time period, a range of values, or a collection of items. For example, "The museum's collection spans from ancient artifacts to modern art."

Common error

Avoid using prepositions other than "from" and "to" with "spans". For example, instead of saying "The project spans over three years", say "The project spans from 2026 to 2029".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spans from" functions as a prepositional phrase, often used to indicate the extent or scope of something, whether it's a period of time, a range of values, or a collection of items. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is generally used to describe ranges.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "spans from" is a common and grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to indicate a range or extent. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for various contexts, including scientific, news, and general writing. While alternatives like "ranges between" or "extends between" exist, "spans from" effectively conveys the idea of encompassing a duration, values, or collection, as demonstrated by the examples provided. It's important to use "from" and "to" correctly to avoid grammatical errors and to ensure clarity in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

runs from

Similar to "spans from", but uses "runs" which can imply a continuous process or operation.

extends between

This alternative uses "extends" to convey a similar meaning of covering a distance or duration, focusing on the reach between two points.

ranges between

This alternative emphasizes the numerical or quantitative aspect of the range, implying a spectrum of values.

covers a period of

This alternative explicitly refers to a duration or timeframe, highlighting the temporal extent.

varies from

Highlights the variance or difference between the specified limits, often used in statistical or comparative contexts.

encompasses the interval

This alternative suggests a more comprehensive inclusion within the specified limits.

stretches across

This alternative uses "stretches" to emphasize the physical extent or geographical spread.

is set between

Emphasizes that a particular value or parameter lies within the two extremes.

comprises an interval of

Similar to "encompasses", but focusing on the components that make up that specific interval.

includes everything between

This phrasing explicitly emphasizes the inclusive nature of the range.

FAQs

How to use "spans from" in a sentence?

Use "spans from" to describe a range or duration. For example, "The course spans from beginner to advanced levels."

What can I say instead of "spans from"?

You can use alternatives like "ranges between", "extends between", or "runs from" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "spans between" instead of "spans from"?

While some may use "spans between", it is more grammatically correct and common to use "spans from...to" when indicating a range. "Spans between" is less conventional.

What's the difference between "spans from" and "includes"?

"Spans from" indicates a continuous range or duration, while "includes" suggests a selection of items within a larger set. For example, "The syllabus spans from basic algebra to calculus" versus "The syllabus includes chapters on algebra, geometry and calculus".