across three years

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "across three years" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a duration or span of time over which something occurs or is measured. Example: "The project was developed across three years, resulting in significant advancements in technology."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

Universities can monitor their cohorts across three years.

The Guardian

He has seen it all: the multimillion-dollar gut renovation that spread across three years.

The New York Times

The gas-tax proposal would phase in across three years an additional 6 percent sales tax on gasoline, the same that is levied now on general goods.

The New York Times

Audiences, he says, have been "very healthy" and the theatre is "on track" for his target of a million visitors across three years.

The Guardian

These are the Bucks Scholarship Programme, worth up to £1,000 per year (up to a total of £3,000 across three years; the Academic Achievement Scholarship will provide a fee discount of £2,000 per year (a total of £6,000 across three years); and Sporting Excellence Scholarship awards are worth up to £3,500 in fee discounts.

Independent

But with the club seeking to drive down their losses, which were £97.8m in the year to May 2012, and Uefa's FFP regime allowing only €45m (£39m) losses across three years to 2013, this is considered a prudent move.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

There was a recent outcry over one free school, at Beccles in Suffolk, which had 37 applications for 162 places across three year groups for September.

BBC

Across two years, C4 reduced its outgoings by nearly £130m.

The Guardian

I reckon I have spent 44 solid weeks on the libel action spread across two years.

The Guardian

This meant they could reckon on £600,000 in fines across two years' budgets.

The Guardian - Opinion

For example, he studied the results achieved by 25 wealth advisers across eight years.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "across three years" to clearly define the duration of a project, study, or event. This helps provide a specific timeframe for readers to understand the scope.

Common error

Avoid using "across three years" when the actions or events aren't consistently distributed throughout the entire period. If the activity is sporadic, use a phrase like "over three years" or "within a three-year period" for accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "across three years" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun, indicating the duration over which an action, event, or state occurs. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, supported by various examples in the search results.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

34%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "across three years" is a grammatically sound and commonly used prepositional phrase that defines a timeframe. As Ludwig AI explains, it's suitable for describing events, projects, or studies that extend over a three-year period. Predominantly found in news and media, as well as scientific contexts, this phrase conveys a sense of duration and scope, providing clarity in various communications. While "over three years" and "during three years" offer similar meanings, "across three years" is a reliable choice for specifying temporal scope.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

spanning three years

This alternative uses "spanning" to emphasize the duration and coverage of the three-year period.

over a three-year period

This alternative specifies the timeframe as a "period", adding a slightly more formal tone.

during three years

This option uses "during" as the preposition, focusing on the events within the three-year timeframe.

throughout a three-year duration

This phrase emphasizes the continuous nature of something happening across the three years.

for a three-year stretch

Uses "stretch" to informally indicate a continuous period.

in the course of three years

This alternative is a more formal way of expressing the same duration.

a three-year timeframe

This alternative presents the timeframe as a noun phrase, useful when the timeframe itself is the subject.

covering three years

This alternative focuses on the extent or scope of something that happens over the three years.

lasting three years

Highlights the persistence or continuation of something for the specified duration.

a three-year span

Similar to "a three-year timeframe" but emphasizes the period as a continuous stretch.

FAQs

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

You can use "across three years" to define the duration of an event, project, or study. For example, "The study was conducted across three years to observe long-term effects."

What are some alternatives to "across three years"?

Alternatives include "spanning three years", "over a three-year period", or "during three years", depending on the specific context.

Is it more formal to say "across three years" or "over three years"?

"Across three years" and "over three years" are generally interchangeable. "In the course of three years" may be considered slightly more formal.

When should I use "across three years" instead of "in three years"?

Use "across three years" when referring to something that occurs continuously or is distributed throughout the three-year period. Use "in three years" when referring to a point in time three years from now.