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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
studies spanned over
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "studies spanned over" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct usage would be "studies spanned" or "studies spanned a period of." Example: "The studies spanned a period of five years, covering various aspects of the research topic."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Science
News & Media
Alternative expressions(1)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
1 human-written examples
(2) Studies spanned over 30 years (1981 2013) and there have been considerable changes in the phenotype of T1 and T2D in this time.
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
59 human-written examples
We conducted extensive empirical studies (spanning over 500 participants) comparing the performance of computer agents using different types of equilibrium strategies with that of people in three different countries, the U.S., Israel and China, that are characterized by cultural differences in how people make contracts in the game.
Science
In studies spanning over a decade, she and her colleagues have shown that having a supportive network, reducing isolation, decreasing social anxiety, and--especially--helping others can increase the chances of staying sober by up to 50percentt.
News & Media
The study spanned over a long observation window of 36 years.
Science
Furthermore they also failed to assess whether diagnosis or causes of death had changed over time as their study spanned over 40 years.
Science
The data for this study spans over 1 million lavatory uses.
Science
Our study spans over a long period of time; during 30 years it is obvious that the treatment and management of critically ill patients and of ABM have changed a lot.
Science
In a large cohort study spanning over 20 years, Suissa et al. [ 41] obtained data from the Saskatchewan Health databases on asthma patients from that province aged 5 44 between 1975 and 1991 and found that the overall rate of asthma hospitalization was 42 per 1000 asthma patients per year in patients with at least 1 year of follow-up.
Science
Included studies spanned 22 years (1986 2008), during which time physicians abolished the practice of routinely changing CVCs over a wire and began using chlorhexidine.
A significant correlation was found, suggesting typicality can be reliably rated as a concept despite the studies spanning a timeframe of over 35 years, originating from different geographical areas and using raters of different ages and levels of education.
Science
Because of this central role, the costs of resistance have now been measured in well over 100 studies spanning a wide diversity of resistance mechanisms and pathogens.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Instead of "studies spanned over", use the more grammatically correct and concise "studies spanned" followed by the period or aspects covered. For example, use "the studies spanned 30 years" or "the studies spanned various methodologies".
Common error
The phrase "spanned over" is redundant because "spanned" already implies covering a duration or range. Using "over" adds unnecessary words and weakens the sentence. Stick to "spanned" for clarity and conciseness.
Source & Trust
77%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "studies spanned over" functions as a verbal phrase intended to describe the timeframe or scope of research. However, the inclusion of "over" is grammatically redundant, making the phrase incorrect. Ludwig AI suggests that the correct usage is "studies spanned".
Frequent in
Science
30%
News & Media
25%
Formal & Business
15%
Less common in
Wiki
10%
Encyclopedias
10%
Reference
10%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
The phrase "studies spanned over" is an incorrect construction. Ludwig AI highlights that the use of "over" is redundant because the verb "spanned" already implies coverage across a period or range. The correct and more concise phrasing is "studies spanned". Although sources like The New York Times and BMC Infectious Diseases have used similar phrasings, the grammatical error impacts the phrase's overall quality. To improve clarity and correctness, focus on using "spanned" alone or choosing alternative phrasings such as "studies covered" or "studies encompassed".
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
studies covered
Replaces "spanned over" with a more concise and grammatically standard verb, focusing on the content addressed.
studies encompassed
Emphasizes the inclusiveness of the research, suggesting a broad range of topics or areas were considered.
studies extended across
Highlights the duration or geographical reach of the research, suitable for longitudinal or multi-site studies.
studies ranged across
Implies variability within the scope of the studies, suggesting a diverse set of parameters or conditions were examined.
studies were conducted over
A more formal phrasing, emphasizing the process and timeframe of the research.
studies stretched across
Similar to 'extended across', but may imply a greater effort or challenge in covering the range.
studies investigated
Shifts the focus to the research question or subject matter, rather than the timeframe or scope.
studies examined
Similar to "studies investigated", highlighting a detailed analysis of the subject.
studies were performed across
Focuses on the execution of the studies over a specific area, population, or condition.
studies included
Highlights what specifically was part of the research.
FAQs
What is the correct way to use "span" in the context of research?
When describing the duration or scope of research, use "span" followed by the time period or range covered, such as "the research spanned five years" or "the analysis spanned multiple disciplines". Avoid adding "over" as it is redundant.
What can I say instead of "studies spanned over"?
You can use alternatives like "studies covered", "studies encompassed", or "studies extended across" depending on the context.
Is "spanned across" a better alternative to "studies spanned over"?
While "spanned across" is grammatically acceptable, it's often more concise to simply use "spanned". For instance, prefer "the project spanned several countries" over "the project spanned across several countries".
How does the meaning change if I use "range" instead of "span"?
Using "range" shifts the focus from duration to variety or scope. For example, "the studies ranged from simple observations to complex experiments" emphasizes the diversity of approaches, whereas "the studies spanned ten years" emphasizes the duration of the research.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
77%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested