spend time to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "spend time to" is not correct and should not be used in written English.
Instead, you can use the phrase "spend time" or "take time to." For example: "I'm going to spend time studying for my exams."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We know how but always you need to spend time to work in this area.

Independent

I am willing to spend time to support general online community activities.

University of California, Berkeley

You have nobody wanting to spend time to learn from each other.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

3. I am willing to spend time to support general online community activities.

University of California, Berkeley

Spend time to get the basics right and quality assure your responses.

The Guardian

Users spend time to manually repair complex 3D shapes because of imperfect translations between 3D engineering CAD models and the proprietary format of the VR system.

Computers in Industry

8. Am I willing to spend time to sell it to others who might not understand or support it?

Harvard Business Review

The guy asked "How are you today?" and I launched into my hard-luck story and asked if he could spend time to discuss my problems.

Independent

Spend time to develop clear analogies to explain complex topics, or use a specific story that exemplifies the data you want to convey.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Over the holidays, he said, he would return to his home state, Tennessee, to spend time to "mend some fences, literally and figuratively".

The New York Times

The market is divided into those willing to spend time to save money, almost all of whom buy hardware, and those willing to spend money to save time, almost all of whom buy service and support".

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you want to express that you are using some of your time to do something use the correct form: "spend time" + gerund. For example: I "spend time" reading every day.

Common error

Avoid using "spend time to" + infinitive. This construction is grammatically incorrect. The correct way to express this is to use "spend time" + the gerund form of the verb (verb ending in -ing).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spend time to" functions as an incorrect attempt to express purpose or intention. It is often intended to convey that someone is allocating time in order to achieve a specific goal. As Ludwig AI points out, the grammatically correct forms are "spend time" followed by a gerund, or "take the time to" followed by an infinitive.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

17%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "spend time to" is a common grammatical error. While frequently used across various contexts, including News & Media, Academia, and Science, it's considered incorrect. As Ludwig AI states, the accurate alternatives are "spend time" followed by a gerund (e.g., "spend time reading") or "take the time to" followed by the base form of the verb (e.g., "take the time to read"). Using the correct form enhances clarity and credibility in your writing. To avoid this error, remember to use "spend time" + gerund or find alternatives that can fit your context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take the time to

Highlights the act of consciously choosing to use time for something.

make time for

Indicates creating or finding time within a busy schedule.

devote time to

Implies a significant investment of time in something.

find time to

Focuses on discovering or managing to locate available time.

dedicate time to

Highlights a commitment of time and effort to a specific purpose.

set aside time for

Emphasizes the reservation of time for a specific activity.

allocate time for

Emphasizes a deliberate distribution of time for a particular task.

schedule time for

Implies a structured arrangement of time for a planned activity.

invest time in

Suggests that time is being used with the expectation of a return or benefit.

spare time for

Focuses on utilizing available free time for something specific.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "spend time" in a sentence?

The correct way to use "spend time" is followed by a gerund (verb ending in -ing). For example, you can say "I spend time reading" instead of "I spend time to read."

What can I say instead of "spend time to"?

Instead of "spend time to", you can use alternatives like "take the time to" or simply "spend time" followed by a gerund.

Is "spend time to" grammatically correct?

No, "spend time to" is not grammatically correct. The correct form is "spend time" followed by a gerund or "take the time to" followed by the base form of the verb.

What's the difference between "spend time reading" and "spend time to read"?

"Spend time reading" is grammatically correct and means you are dedicating time to the activity of reading. "Spend time to read" is incorrect; a better alternative is "take the time to read".