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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
Certain period of time
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "certain period of time" is correct and frequently used in written English
You can use it to refer to an amount of time that is not specified. For example, "I will be unavailable for a certain period of time as I am working on a project."
✓ Grammatically correct
News & Media
Science
Academia
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
60 human-written examples
It just defers it for a certain period of time.
News & Media
DEFINITION: distance traveled over a certain period of time.
Academia
"It helps for a certain period of time," Ghaith said.
News & Media
You can only be useful at a job like this for a certain period of time.
News & Media
One focused on increasing registrations to a product over a certain period of time.
News & Media
Whether actualized or not, these possibilities continue during a certain period of time.
Encyclopedias
After a certain period of time, these records are generally not needed for those reasons.
Academia
Speed is defined as a distance traveled over a certain period of time.
Academia
You typically need to use the card at the retailer within a certain period of time.
News & Media
Fixed rates Fixed-rate ISAs mean tying up your money for a certain period of time.
News & Media
After a certain period of time the bed temperature profile evens out.
Expert writing Tips
✓ Best practice
When using "certain period of time", clarify the context to prevent ambiguity. For example, specify whether it's days, weeks, months, or years if precision is needed.
⚠ Common error
Avoid using "certain period of time" without any contextual clues. If possible, provide an approximate duration (e.g., 'within a few weeks') to give your audience a better understanding.
Linguistic Context
The phrase "certain period of time" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb by specifying when an action occurs or a condition exists. It indicates an unspecified duration. Ludwig confirms its correct and frequent use.
Expression frequency: Very common
✓ Frequent in
News & Media
36%
Science
32%
Academia
10%
⚠ Less common in
Wiki
8%
Encyclopedias
1%
Formal & Business
1%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, "certain period of time" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to denote an unspecified duration. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for various contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Academia. While versatile, clarifying the context or providing approximate durations when possible improves clarity. Consider alternatives such as "specific duration" or "defined timeframe" for added precision. Be mindful of overly vague usage to prevent confusion.
Alternative expressions
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
specific duration
Replaces 'period' with 'duration' and 'certain' with 'specific', maintaining the meaning with slightly more formal vocabulary.
defined timeframe
Emphasizes the setting of boundaries for the time interval, implying a pre-determined limit.
specified time interval
Replaces 'period' with 'interval', making the phrase more precise and technical.
particular duration
Substitutes 'certain' with 'particular', suggesting a specific rather than vague duration.
designated time
Implies that the duration has been officially or formally assigned.
allotted time
Suggests that the duration has been portioned out or allocated for a specific purpose.
FAQs
How can I use "certain period of time" in a sentence?
You can use "certain period of time" to refer to a duration that isn't precisely defined, as in, "The effects will be visible after a "certain period of time"".
What are some alternatives to using "certain period of time"?
Depending on the context, you might use alternatives such as "specific duration", "defined timeframe", or "specified time interval".
Is it better to specify the duration instead of saying "certain period of time"?
Specifying the duration, like "two weeks" or "three months", is preferable for clarity. Use "certain period of time" when the exact duration is unknown or unimportant.
What's the difference between "certain period of time" and "specific period of time"?
"Specific period of time" implies a more defined or measurable duration, while "certain period of time" is vaguer and less precise.
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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
81%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested