English UsageGrammar guide
During vs. While
During and while can both relate events in time, but they take different complements. During is a preposition normally followed by a noun phrase; while is a conjunction normally followed by a clause.
Use during before a noun phrase and while before a clause: during the meeting, but while we were meeting.
Key details
During Rolepreposition before a noun or noun phrase
Termsduring, while
While Roleconjunction before a clause
Choose the right form
| Choice | Use it when | Example |
|---|---|---|
| during | followed by a noun phrase | during the class |
| while | followed by a clause | while the class was running |
Further guidance
Duration Boundary
For a measured length of time such as three years, for is normally used rather than during.
Structure Boundary
The choice is primarily grammatical structure, not merely duration.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- During (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · During before nouns and noun phrases for time periods
- While and whilst — English Grammar Today (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · While/whilst equivalence, frequency, and formality guidance