spend a while

USAGE SUMMARY

"spend a while" is an acceptable phrase in written English.
It simply means to devote time to something. For example, "I'm going to spend a while reading this book before dinner."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

You can spend a while there.

The New York Times - Travel

Go there, spend a while, pick up some books.

The Guardian - Travel

"It's sensible to spend a while trying to see if we can get consensus".

The New York Times

Anyone who thinks there is no magic in books should spend a while in the kids' section.

The Guardian - Books

I arrive ludicrously early for my appointment with Terry Butcher, so I spend a while in the players' lounge at Newport County's training ground.

The Guardian - Sport

It's the kind of place where you can "come in and spend a while," as the New Yorker writer Roger Angell, who summers near Blue Hill, put it.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

IN 1983 Jim Webb spent a while working as a journalist in Lebanon.

The Economist

I sat by her bed and spent a while wetting her lips.

The New Yorker

"I'd spent a while in the real world," she told me.

The New Yorker

You've spent a while in a job and feel like part of the office furniture.

The Guardian

He spends a while evading my attempts to categorise his output.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you want to suggest dedicating time to a particular activity, using "spend a while" makes your writing sound natural and less formal. For instance, "I plan to "spend a while" exploring the new museum exhibit."

Common error

While perfectly acceptable in general, in academic papers or professional reports, consider more formal alternatives like "dedicate time" or "allocate resources" to maintain a consistent tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spend a while" functions as a verb phrase, where "spend" is the verb and "a while" specifies the duration. It indicates the act of dedicating time to an activity. Ludwig AI confirms its usage with examples showing its role in describing how time is allocated.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Science

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "spend a while" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that indicates dedicating a certain amount of time to an activity. Ludwig AI confirms its broad acceptability. While versatile, it's best suited for neutral to informal contexts, with formal settings potentially benefiting from more precise vocabulary. Its prevalence in news media and general writing underscores its common usage for expressing time allocation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take some time

Suggests using a portion of available time.

dedicate some time

Emphasizes a deliberate allocation of time.

take a period

Focuses on the act of taking time for something without a necessary goal.

invest some time

Highlights the commitment of time with an expectation of a return or benefit.

pass some time

Implies spending time in a relaxed or leisurely manner.

linger for a moment

Suggests staying somewhere slightly longer than expected.

tarry for a bit

Indicates a brief delay or pause.

occupy oneself for a time

Formal and emphasizes self-engagement during that time.

while away the hours

Suggests leisurely and perhaps unproductive time use.

bide one's time

Implies waiting patiently and strategically.

FAQs

How can I use "spend a while" in a sentence?

You can use "spend a while" to indicate dedicating time to an activity, as in "I'm going to "spend a while" reading this book" or "We should "spend a while" discussing the project details".

What are some alternatives to "spend a while"?

You can use alternatives like "dedicate some time", "take some time", or "invest some time" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "spent a while" instead of "spend a while"?

Yes, "spent a while" is the past tense form. Use "spend a while" for present or future actions and "spent a while" for past actions, such as "I "spent a while" working on that project yesterday".

What's the difference between "spend a while" and "spend a moment"?

"Spend a while" implies a longer duration than "spend a moment". Use "spend a while" when the activity requires a significant amount of time, whereas "spend a moment" is for brief actions.