across these years

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "across these years" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a span of time, often indicating experiences or changes that have occurred over that duration. Example: "Across these years, we have witnessed significant advancements in technology and communication."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

"If the heating was dangerous, how come no one died across these years?" City officials say that was very likely because the windows were improperly installed, too, and were so leaky that deadly gases were able to vent through the cracks.

The New York Times

You have supported these customers and thousands of couriers and partners across these years.

TechCrunch

Across these years, there is an increase in student satisfaction from 64%to73%3% as well as an increase in average mark when normalised according to the overall year mark.

Education for Chemical Engineers

They argue "unprecedented social forces, including marketing and digital media, are affecting health and wellbeing across these years".

Vice

"[T]he writer's self-sufficient — and therefore ideal — status," Dyer notes, "is expressed with sad and beautiful pride by Lawrence: 'I am no more than a single human man wandering my lonely way across these years.'".

Los Angeles Times

This indicates a high degree of genetic relatedness of the BB and Arb sites across these years.

AoB PLANTS

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

So Phyllis Johnson and I share that across all these years".

The New York Times - Arts

Judging by the details of the roof design, a single master carpenter may have been used for all three parts of the build; he probably worked elsewhere across the region during these years, including on 15 other houses and two churches.

Wikipedia

Even so, one in six British males over 14 entered the services across these 22 years, and the regular British army grew sixfold to a quarter of a million men.

The Guardian - Books

Yet few longitudinal studies exist that track efficacy across these early years.

Teaching and Teacher Education

Phonological awareness explained a considerable amount of variance in accuracy in reading all forms of script across these two years.

Journal of Experimental Child Psychology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "across these years" to emphasize a development, change, or trend that unfolds gradually over a specific multi-year period. This phrasing is particularly effective when summarizing longitudinal studies or historical analyses.

Common error

While similar to "over the years", "across these years" implies a more active observation or analysis of events unfolding within that time. Avoid using it simply as a substitute for the more general "over the years" if you're not highlighting changes or trends.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "across these years" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun by specifying a time frame. Ludwig examples show its role in describing trends, changes, or conditions observed over a period.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

43%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "across these years" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase that is used to specify a time frame during which certain events or changes have occurred. Ludwig examples show it appearing in both news and scientific contexts, indicating a neutral register. While "over the years" is a more common alternative, "across these years" is particularly useful when highlighting trends or summarizing longitudinal data. Ludwig AI finds this expression usable, though its less frequent usage suggests it should be employed deliberately to achieve a specific analytical or observational emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

over the years

Uses a more common preposition, "over", instead of "across".

throughout these years

Substitutes "across" with "throughout", emphasizing continuity.

during this period

Replaces the more general "years" with the specific "period".

in the course of these years

Emphasizes the unfolding of events over time.

spanning these years

Highlights the duration that the years encompass.

in these years

Simpler phrasing that focuses on existence within the timeframe.

during the past few years

Refers to a recent and limited number of years.

over this time span

Uses a noun phrase to indicate a duration.

in the intervening years

Highlights the time that has passed between two events.

through the passage of these years

Emphasizes the effect of time passing.

FAQs

What does "across these years" mean?

The phrase "across these years" refers to a period of several years, often implying that something has been observed or experienced during that time. It suggests a span of time within which changes or events have occurred.

How can I use "across these years" in a sentence?

You can use "across these years" to describe trends, changes, or developments that have taken place over a period of multiple years. For example: "Across these years, we have seen a significant increase in the use of renewable energy."

What are some alternatives to "across these years"?

Alternatives include "over the years", "throughout these years", or "during this period", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference in formality between "across these years" and "over the years"?

The phrase "across these years" might be perceived as slightly more formal or analytical than "over the years", but both are generally acceptable in most contexts. The choice depends on the desired tone and emphasis.