a record year

USAGE SUMMARY

"a record year" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe a particularly successful or notable year, often in terms of financial or personal achievements. It can also be used in sports to describe a team's or player's best year of performance. Example: 2019 was a record year for our company, with profits exceeding our expectations by 20%.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A record year isn't guaranteed.

The New York Times

It is a record year.

Independent

But Broadway has had a record year.

The New York Times

The S.B.A. has a record year in Nebraska.

The New York Times

The country had hoped for a record year.

The Economist

That's $1 billion more than 2010, a record year.

The New York Times

This was a record year beaten only by 2000.

The Economist

And 2017 is on track to be a record year.

The Washington Post

The World Bank has just concluded a record year.

The New York Times

"We're having a record year," Mr. Greenhill said.

The New York Times

For museums, this is a record year for physical attendance.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a record year" to highlight significant accomplishments or milestones within a specific 12-month period. For example, "2024 was a record year for renewable energy adoption."

Common error

Avoid using "a record year" without specific metrics or context. Instead of saying "It was a record year", specify what record was broken or what made the year exceptional. For example, "It was a record year for sales, exceeding last year's numbers by 30%."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a record year" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often used as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It identifies a specific year characterized by surpassing previous achievements or reaching unprecedented levels. As Ludwig AI suggests, it is used to denote significant success.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a record year" is a widely used and grammatically sound phrase used to denote an exceptional year of achievement. As Ludwig AI highlights, this phrase appears most frequently in news and media, business and formal contexts. It is important to provide specific context and metrics when using this phrase to avoid vagueness. Consider alternatives like "a banner year" or "an unprecedented year" to subtly shift the emphasis. By following these guidelines, you can effectively use "a record year" to highlight notable accomplishments and milestones.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A banner year

Emphasizes success and achievement, similar to a record year, but focuses more on overall positive outcomes.

An exceptional year

Indicates the year was remarkably better than usual.

A top-performing year

Specifically emphasizes high performance, often in a business context.

A landmark year

Highlights the significance and importance of the year, implying it set a new standard.

A stellar year

Implies outstanding and brilliant achievements.

A groundbreaking year

Focuses on innovation and pioneering achievements during the year.

A peak year

Highlights the highest point or level reached during the year.

An unparalleled year

Stresses the unmatched nature of the year's success.

An unprecedented year

Stresses the uniqueness and lack of prior comparable instances.

A watershed year

Highlights a turning point or significant change during the year.

FAQs

How can I use "a record year" in a sentence?

You can use "a record year" to describe a period of exceptional achievement, such as "This has been "a record year" for our company profits."

What can I say instead of "a record year"?

Alternatives include "a banner year", "a landmark year", or "an unprecedented year" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always positive to describe something as "a record year"?

While often positive, "a record year" can also describe negative events. For example, "2020 was "a record year" for unemployment claims."

What's the difference between "a record year" and "a peak year"?

"A record year" implies setting a new high in some quantifiable metric, while "a peak year" simply indicates reaching the highest point, which may not be a new record.