spread over time

USAGE SUMMARY

"spread over time" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase to indicate that something is happening, or has happened, over a period of time. For example, "The effects of the pandemic were spread over time as the virus made its way around the world."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And the effects will spread over time.

The New York Times

It is spread over time until supersaturation disappears at the end of the batch process.

Chemical Engineering Science

Spread over time, discounted costs of energy losses are an integral part of the objective function.

Applied Energy

These are important to understanding how the waste would spread over time.

The New York Times

Skeptics play down the threat, but the instability these extremists create will spread over time.

The New York Times

Leaving Bhumkal involves a lot of good-byes spread over time.

The Guardian - Books

Ejecta radiation arrives spread over time, however, not in the single radiant pulse generated by an H-bomb.

University of California, Berkeley

This highlights the need for enumeration to be spread over time to overcome cyclicality on food acquisition and consumption.

Food Policy

Most funds value their assets over several years, so the effect of one year's dip is spread over time.

The Economist

The new test reveals carriers, helping farmers and veterinarians monitor infection spread over time and track the impact of control measures in ways that were previously impossible.

Cornell University

Grapevine leafroll disease (GLRD) is vectored by grape mealybugs, and thus can spread over time to infect clean vines in vineyards worldwide.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing processes or events that occur gradually, use "spread over time" to emphasize the temporal distribution and avoid implying a sudden or instantaneous change.

Common error

Avoid using "spread over time" when you actually mean something happened quickly, even if its effects are long-lasting. This phrase specifically indicates a process that unfolds gradually.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spread over time" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating how an action or state is distributed across a duration. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

29%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "spread over time" is a versatile adverbial modifier used to emphasize the gradual distribution of an action, event, or phenomenon across a duration. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically sound and suitable for various contexts, particularly in science, news, academia, and business. When employing this phrase, ensure that it accurately reflects a gradual process rather than a sudden occurrence with long-lasting effects. While alternatives like "distributed over time" and "dispersed over time" exist, "spread over time" is frequently used due to its clarity and wide acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

distributed over time

Highlights the dispersion aspect more explicitly than the original phrase.

dispersed over time

Emphasizes scattering or spreading apart gradually.

extended over time

Focuses on the prolongation or duration of something.

unfolded over time

Suggests a gradual revealing or development.

allocated over time

Highlights the planned distribution across a period.

staggered over time

Suggests an uneven or phased distribution.

gradual progression

Implies a slow and continuous development across a period.

phased implementation

Suggests a planned rollout in stages across time.

chronic development

Conveys long-term development usually to define disease

progressive increase

Describes a steady growth or accumulation across a period.

FAQs

How can I use "spread over time" in a sentence?

You can use "spread over time" to describe a process, impact, or distribution that occurs gradually, such as "The disease "spread over time", affecting different regions sequentially".

What are some alternatives to "spread over time"?

Alternatives include "distributed over time", "dispersed over time", or "extended over time", each with slightly different nuances.

Is it more correct to say "spread over time" or "spreading over time"?

Both "spread over time" and "spreading over time" are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Spread over time" describes a completed distribution, while "spreading over time" describes an ongoing process.

What's the difference between ""spread over time"" and "occurring over time"?

"Spread over time" suggests a dispersion or allocation across a period, whereas "occurring over time" simply indicates that something happens during a period, without necessarily implying distribution.