unexplained duration

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unexplained duration" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a period of time that lacks a clear or known reason or explanation. Example: "The project faced delays due to an unexplained duration that left the team puzzled about the next steps."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

On July 15th, the week after a cop shot Philando Castile, in Minnesota, and a man in Dallas killed five policemen, the prison was shut down again, for reasons unexplained and a duration unspecified.

The New Yorker

The presence of current Chlamydial infection did not seem to be related to the duration of unexplained infertility as shown in (Table  3).

BMC Women's Health

The initial study cohort consisted of 23 cotrimoxazole-treated, ART-antiretroviral therapy naïve AIDS patients who were undergoing diagnostic endoscopy for unexplained diarrhea (>12 weeks duration) and weight loss (>10 % of the patient's body weight).

BMC Infectious Diseases

This demonstrated that the results of the variable-durations modeling did not arise merely because of some unwanted confound (e.g., comparisons between conditions with different durations, or unexplained variance in one or the other multiple-phases model).

Human Brain Mapping

Somatoform symptoms often account for sick leave and are characterized by long duration and medically unexplained symptoms [ 4- 7].

BMC Psychiatry

T. whipplei should always be ruled out in patients who present with unexplained transient arthralgia irrespective of duration, frequency and severity.

BMC Infectious Diseases

He presented with unexplained weight loss of 2 months duration along with intermittent fever, night sweats and cough.

Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a disease which defined as medically unexplained, disabling fatigue of 6 months or more duration and often accompanied by several of a long list of physical complaints.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

10 11 All patients of this cohort fulfilled the Oxford criteria and reported severe, unexplained, debilitating fatigue of at least one year in duration.

British Medical Journal

Cases were defined as those individuals who had experienced the greatest degree of unexplained annual weight gain during follow-up (with an average duration of 6.8 years).

Plosone

Renal biopsy was done in selected cases with prolonged duration of acute renal failure (ARF) (>4 weeks) and unexplained ARF and in those with features suggestive of systemic and glomerular diseases.

CKJ: Clinical Kidney Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "unexplained duration", ensure the context clearly establishes what the duration refers to. Providing background information helps the reader understand the specific time period being discussed, even if its cause is unknown.

Common error

Avoid using "unexplained duration" without specifying what event or process the duration pertains to. Without context, the phrase becomes vague and confusing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unexplained duration" functions as a noun phrase, where "unexplained" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "duration". It denotes a period of time whose cause or length is not known or understood.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unexplained duration" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a period of time lacking a clear reason or explanation. While relatively uncommon, it finds application across various contexts, including science and news reporting. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. Alternative phrases such as "unspecified timeframe" or "undefined length of time" offer similar meanings. Effective use of "unexplained duration" requires providing sufficient context to the reader, ensuring clarity about the time period in question.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unexplained timeframe

A direct synonym, replacing "duration" with "timeframe".

unspecified period

Similar to "unspecified timeframe", but using "period" instead.

undetermined duration

Uses "undetermined" to convey the lack of a set duration.

duration without explanation

Inverts the original phrase while retaining the meaning.

unspecified timeframe

Focuses on the lack of a defined period rather than the reason for it.

undefined length of time

Emphasizes the absence of a clear beginning or end.

length of time not explained

Rephrases the original phrase to emphasize the lack of explanation.

period of unknown length

Highlights the uncertainty surrounding the duration.

unaccounted for time

Implies a period where time is not properly explained or recorded.

interval of unknown extent

A more formal way to express the uncertainty about the duration.

FAQs

How can I use "unexplained duration" in a sentence?

You can use "unexplained duration" to describe a period of time for which the reason or cause is not known. For example, "The project faced delays due to an "unexplained duration" that left the team puzzled."

What phrases are similar to "unexplained duration"?

Similar phrases include "unspecified timeframe", "undefined length of time", or "unexplained timeframe". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "unexplained duration" grammatically correct?

Yes, "unexplained duration" is grammatically correct. It functions as an adjective-noun phrase. "Unexplained" modifies "duration" to indicate a lack of known cause or reason.

When is it appropriate to use "unexplained duration" in writing?

It's appropriate to use "unexplained duration" when discussing a period of time where the reason for its length or occurrence is not known or understood. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts depending on the surrounding text.