In recent decades

USAGE SUMMARY

"In recent decades" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a period of time that is relatively recent in the span of history. For example: "In recent decades, there has been an increase in the number of people who practice yoga."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In recent decades, especially, the "St.

The New York Times - Arts

In recent decades, anti-E.U.

The New Yorker

In recent decades, though, the relationship switched.

The New York Times - Magazine

In recent decades, this has been changing.

The New York Times - Books

In recent decades, the term has spiralled inexorably toward meaninglessness.

The New Yorker

In recent decades, the roles have been reversed.

The New Yorker

In recent decades, changing corporate norms have allowed C.E.O.

The New York Times

In recent decades, a dynamic China has certainly grown stronger.

The Economist

In recent decades, we meet a few new substantial results.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

In recent decades, a trend for outsourcing has emerged.

Triple Helix

In recent decades, many emission models have been developed.

Visualization in Engineering

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "In recent decades" to introduce trends, changes, or developments that have occurred over the past 20-30 years. Be specific about the timeframe if greater precision is needed.

Common error

Avoid using "In recent decades" when referring to changes that have occurred only in the last few years. Use phrases like "In recent years" or "Recently" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "In recent decades" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, setting a temporal context for the statement that follows. It indicates when the described action or change occurred. Ludwig confirms this usage through numerous examples across different contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "In recent decades" is a grammatically correct and very common temporal phrase used to set a timeframe of roughly the past 20-30 years. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use across diverse contexts, including news, science, and formal writing. While generally neutral in tone, specifying the exact years may add more precision in academic contexts. Alternatives like "Over the last few decades" or "In recent years" can be used depending on the desired nuance and timeframe. Avoid confusing the timeframe of "decades" with shorter periods. The phrase serves to contextualize trends, changes, or observations within a broader historical perspective, providing readers with a clear temporal reference point.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Over the last few decades

Emphasizes the passing of time over several decades.

In the past several decades

Highlights a period spanning multiple decades in the past.

During the last few decades

Focuses on events happening within the specified time frame.

In recent years

Refers to a shorter, more immediate time period.

In the preceding decades

Indicates the decades that came before a specific point in time.

In the contemporary era

Implies a broader, more general timeframe.

In modern times

Similar to "In the contemporary era" but slightly less formal.

Lately

Denotes a very recent and unspecified period.

Of late

A more formal way of saying "lately".

In the current climate

Highlights the present conditions or trends.

FAQs

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

Use "In recent decades" to introduce a trend or shift that has occurred over the last 20 to 30 years. For example, "In recent decades, the use of renewable energy has increased significantly."

What's a more formal alternative to "In recent decades"?

While "In recent decades" is suitable for many contexts, a more formal alternative could be "Over the past several decades" or "During the preceding decades" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What phrases are similar to "In recent decades" but refer to a shorter period?

If you want to refer to a shorter period, consider using phrases such as "in recent years", "recently", or "of late".

Is "In recent decades" too vague for academic writing?

While acceptable, "in recent decades" can be vague in academic writing. If possible, provide a more specific timeframe (e.g., "Between 1990 and 2020") for greater clarity and precision.