In past decades

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "In past decades" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a time period that is in the past but is not too distant in the past. For example, "In past decades, the use of technology in schools has increased rapidly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

In past decades they focused on working with African governments to defeat poachers.

The Economist

In past decades, this "double gearing" provided cheap capital that fueled the economy's rise.

The New York Times

In past decades such weather might have spelled doom for the year's vintage.

The New York Times - Food

In past decades, the rival Examiner was sometimes seen as a more serious paper.

The New York Times

In past decades, soft magnetic films have been applied in information storage technology and sensors.

Nanoscale Research Letters

In past decades, the optimal control of distributed parameter system had received much attention in the academic field.

Boundary Value Problems

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

Literature, for instance, has been irrevocably diminished in past decades.

The New Yorker

America has lobbied Europe repeatedly in past decades to be more welcoming to Turkey.

The Economist

Grenada and Belize sold citizenship widely and unwisely in past decades.

The Economist

"[They] aren't any stronger than similar claims made in past decades," Bloomberg reported him as saying.

Independent

Attempts to banish irony have come and gone in past decades.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "in past decades", ensure the context clearly indicates the specific timeframe you are referencing. Provide specific examples or data points when possible to strengthen your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "in past decades" when the context actually refers to the more distant past (e.g. centuries). Choose a more appropriate phrase like "in past centuries" or "historically" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "In past decades" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause. According to Ludwig AI, it sets a temporal context, indicating when an action or state occurred.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

54%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "In past decades" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase that functions to establish a timeframe. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, especially in news, media, and scientific writing. The phrase provides a temporal anchor, helping readers understand the context of changes or trends over the recent past. To ensure clarity, provide specific details or examples related to the timeframe.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

In recent decades

Replaces "past" with "recent", emphasizing the nearness of the timeframe.

In previous decades

Substitutes "past" with "previous", indicating an earlier period.

In former decades

Uses "former" instead of "past", suggesting a period that preceded the present.

In the last few decades

Adds "the last few" for a slightly more specific timeframe.

Over the past decades

Replaces "in" with "over", shifting the focus to a period of duration.

During the past decades

Similar to "over the past decades", emphasizing the time period during which something occurred.

For the past few decades

Highlights the duration of the time period.

In preceding decades

A more formal substitute for "in previous decades."

In the decades gone by

A more descriptive and slightly more literary way of saying "in past decades."

In years gone by

A more general timeframe that can include or exclude decades.

FAQs

How can I use "In past decades" in a sentence?

"In past decades" is typically used to set a timeframe for a trend or change. For example, "In past decades, renewable energy sources have become increasingly popular".

What are some alternatives to "In past decades"?

Alternatives include "in recent decades", "in previous decades", or "over the past decades". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "In past decades" or "During past decades"?

"In past decades" is more common and natural-sounding. "During past decades" is grammatically correct, but less frequently used.

How does "In past decades" differ from "In the last decade"?

"In past decades" refers to a period encompassing multiple decades, while "In the last decade" refers specifically to the most recent ten-year period.