span

[Maybo]

A: How long have Mary been a teacher?

B: Her teaching career spans 3 decades.

The word "span" seems to indicate a period of time already . Do I need to use "have spanned" in the above sentence if Mary is still teaching?

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

A: How long has Mary been a teacher?

B: Her teaching career spans three decades.

The word "span" seems to indicate a period of time already[no space]. Do I need to use "have spanned" in the above sentence if Mary is still teaching?

B is fine.

You can also say, "Her teaching career has spanned three decades."

 

[teechar]

You can also say, "Her teaching career has spanned three decades."

But that could suggest that her career is over.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

But that could suggest that her career is over.

To me it means it's spanned three decades so far.

If it were over, I'd say, "She's not teaching anymore. Her career spanned three decades."

 

[teechar]

I prefer the clear present simple "spans".

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I prefer the clear present simple "spans".

Yup. I do, too. See #2.