a trying year

USAGE SUMMARY

'a trying year' is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it to describe a year that was difficult due to certain challenges or adversities. For example, "2020 has been a trying year for all of us due to the global pandemic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General Interest

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

"It's been a trying year for him," Knuble said.

The New York Times - Sports

It has been a trying year for the Belgian royals.

Independent

It was a moment to savor after a trying year.

The New York Times

But the expectations to succeed quickly have loomed over him in a trying year.

The New York Times - Sports

Their meeting with the Orioles was to be their 81st game of the season, marking the midpoint of a trying year.

The New York Times - Sports

It was a hard-fought, if small, victory for the shipbuilders in a trying year for the $30 billion DD-21 program.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

But Regier said today that it had been "a difficult, trying year" for Peca and that such rancor over money was "an unfortunate part of our business".

The New York Times - Sports

Looking to put an extremely trying year behind him with a good showing this summer.

The Guardian - Sport

Problems are inevitable for such a giant landlord, but this has been an especially trying year.

The New York Times

In June, a granddaughter born at the White House brought the family joy in an otherwise trying year.

Stanford University

It will be another hardship in an already trying year; after the March 11th nuclear disaster they had to swelter through the summer with restrictions on air conditioning.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a trying year" when you want to convey that a particular year was marked by significant difficulties, challenges, or stress. It's appropriate for both personal and professional contexts.

Common error

While effective, "a trying year" can become repetitive if used frequently in the same piece of writing. Vary your language by using synonyms like "a challenging year" or "a difficult period" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a trying year" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying the noun "year." It describes the quality or characteristic of the year, indicating that it was difficult or challenging. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Sports

20%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

6%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a trying year" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe a year marked by significant challenges. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. Its versatility allows it to fit within news reports, sports commentary, or personal narratives, primarily serving to convey empathy or provide context for difficulties encountered. While common, writers should avoid overuse by employing synonyms like "a difficult year" or "a challenging year" to add variety. It's most often found in News & Media, Sports, and Academia sources, making it a readily understood expression across different audiences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a difficult year

Replaces "trying" with a more common synonym, indicating a year filled with challenges.

a challenging year

Substitutes "trying" with "challenging", emphasizing the demanding nature of the year.

a tough year

Uses a more informal synonym for "trying", suggesting a year that was hard to endure.

a hard year

Simplifies the phrasing, directly stating the year was difficult.

a year of hardship

Shifts the focus to the hardship experienced during the year.

a year of adversity

Highlights the adverse circumstances encountered throughout the year.

a testing year

Emphasizes the year's role in testing one's resilience and abilities.

a year filled with challenges

Expands the phrase to explicitly mention the presence of multiple challenges.

a period of difficulty

Broadens the scope to a "period", which could encompass more than just a year, while maintaining the sense of hardship.

a troublesome year

Replaces "trying" with "troublesome", indicating a year filled with problems and difficulties.

FAQs

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

You can use "a trying year" to describe a period marked by difficulties. For example, "After "a trying year", the company finally saw signs of recovery".

What are some alternatives to "a trying year"?

Alternatives include "a difficult year", "a challenging year", or "a tough year". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "trying year" grammatically correct without the article "a"?

While understandable, "trying year" is less formal and grammatically weaker without the article "a". It's generally better to include the article for clarity and proper grammar.

What makes "a trying year" different from "a bad year"?

"A bad year" generally refers to negative outcomes or events. "A trying year" emphasizes the effort and resilience required to navigate difficulties, not just the presence of negative events.