almost two a decade

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost two a decade" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an attempt to express a frequency or occurrence that happens nearly twice within a ten-year period, but it is unclear and awkwardly phrased. Example: "The company has seen almost two major product launches a decade, which is impressive."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Moreover, the annual number of hot days--defined as average temperatures exceeding between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius, depending on location--rose by almost two a decade.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

LONDON — To the Italian police, he was Domenico Rancadore, or "the professor," a Mafia boss on the lam as a dangerous fugitive for almost two decades, a onetime enforcer for the Sicilian Cosa Nostra.

The New York Times

For almost two decades, a battle raged through the courts after Tapie claimed he was cheated by the Credit Lyonnais bank which handled the 1993 sale of Adidas.

The Guardian

For almost two decades, a relative calm prevailed, but in late 1989 — inspired by the fall of the Berlin Wall — Kashmiris on the Indian side, who were fed up with rigged elections and job discrimination, staged a mass revolt.

The New Yorker

Dial-A-Mate 01.21.02 Almost two decades after a judge split off seven Baby Bells from AT&T, regulators are finally allowing the Bells to go national with long-distance and date network service.

Forbes

For almost two decades, an embarrassing pattern of forum shopping has been developing in the highly visible world of big-case bankruptcy reorganization.

Cornell University

A look back over almost two decades reveals a great story of excellent research which was also commercially successful, fulfilling the aims of European Union grants.

Molecular Immunology

To sustain almost two decades as a creator among artisans is a mark of courage that makes him different from the rest.

The New York Times - Sports

Aslam's restrained first novel, "Season of the Rainbirds," centered on the delivery of a bag of letters lost for almost two decades after a train crash.

The New York Times - Books

We further learn that today, almost two decades later, a luxury apartment occupies the lot and "a Starbucks has opened on the exact spot where Eddie stands".

The New York Times - Arts

Closing in almost two decades as a band, Thrice has solidified themselves as a rock band for the people, staying true to their own influences and evolving naturally.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing frequencies, ensure your wording is clear and grammatically standard. Instead of saying "almost two a decade", opt for phrases like "nearly twice per decade" or "almost two times a decade" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "a" in frequency expressions like "almost two a decade". This phrasing is non-standard and can confuse readers. Correct it to "almost two times a decade" or use alternative phrasing to clearly express the intended frequency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost two a decade" functions as an attempt to quantify frequency, but its grammatical structure is incorrect. As noted by Ludwig AI, it's an unclear way to express something happening approximately twice every ten years. The single example in Ludwig shows this incorrect usage in a scientific context.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

100%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "almost two a decade" is grammatically incorrect and not recommended for use in formal writing. Ludwig AI identifies it as unclear and awkwardly phrased. While there is one example from Science Magazine, this does not validate the phrase's correctness. For better clarity, use alternative phrases such as "nearly twice per decade" or "almost two times a decade". Proper phrasing ensures accurate communication of frequency and avoids confusion. These alternatives will convey your intended meaning with greater precision and grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly twice per decade

Replaces "a" with "per" for clarity.

almost two times a decade

Adds "times" for better understanding.

close to two times per decade

Uses "close to" to soften the approximation and replaces "a" with "per".

approximately twice every ten years

Rephrases using "approximately" and a more explicit time frame.

roughly two instances each decade

Substitutes "instances" for events and clarifies the time period.

almost double per decade

Uses "double" in place of "two times", implying a near doubling in frequency.

nearly two occurrences a decade

Replaces "times" with "occurrences" for variety.

just under two times every ten years

Emphasizes that the frequency is slightly less than two.

almost at a rate of two per decade

Uses "rate of" to specify frequency more formally.

approximately two events each decade

Uses "events" in place of generic instances.

FAQs

How can I correctly express a frequency of nearly two times per decade?

Use phrases like "nearly twice a decade", "almost two times a decade", or "close to two times per decade". These are clearer and grammatically correct alternatives to "almost two a decade".

What's wrong with the phrase "almost two a decade"?

The phrase "almost two a decade" is grammatically incorrect and unclear. The article "a" is misused in this context. More standard alternatives include "nearly twice per decade" or "almost two times a decade".

Is there a more formal way to say "almost two a decade"?

Yes, use phrases like "approximately two times per decade" or "at a rate of nearly two per decade". These options offer greater precision and formality compared to the original phrase.

What are some alternative phrases similar to "almost two a decade"?

You can use alternatives such as "roughly two instances each decade" or "just under two times every ten years" to convey a similar meaning with better grammatical structure.