an exceptional year for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an exceptional year for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a year that has been notably positive or successful in a particular context, such as business, personal achievements, or events. Example: "2020 was an exceptional year for our company, as we saw unprecedented growth and innovation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

This was an exceptional year for all my friends – except my friend Vincent.

HuffPost

The number of boomers registered to vote in the 2008 election — 75 percent — is also the highest, except for 87 percent in 1972, which was an exceptional year for several reasons, including the draft and the lowering of the voting age.

The New York Times

It's been an exceptional year for sex scandals.

The Guardian

In an exceptional year for cookbooks, the outstanding volume is (mostly) a re-issue.

Independent

Let's be realistic, this has not been an exceptional year for British sport, like 2012.

The Guardian - Sport

There is little doubt that this has been an exceptional year for Kinnear, both in theatre and on screen.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

This has been an exceptional year so far for natural disasters.

Nature

He is having an exceptional year this year, though.

The New York Times

Since then, Bunting has enjoyed an exceptional year.

BBC

Ms Lucas said 2014 had been "one exceptional year" for ACL, which made a £775, 465 profit in 2013.

BBC

The half full story was another exceptional year for renewable energy last year grown by 17% and the strongest every contribution of wind and solar energy; wind providing the bulk of that growth.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an exceptional year for" to introduce a specific achievement or positive trend. For instance, "2024 was "an exceptional year for" renewable energy adoption."

Common error

Avoid using "an exceptional year for" without providing specific details or context about what made the year exceptional. For example, instead of saying "It was "an exceptional year for" the company," specify "It was "an exceptional year for" the company, with record sales and expansion into new markets."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an exceptional year for" functions as an adjective phrase modifying the noun "year", followed by the preposition "for" introducing the beneficiary or area of exceptionality. This structure serves to highlight a specific period marked by significant positive outcomes or achievements, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Academia

19%

Science

18%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an exceptional year for" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe a year notable for significant achievements or positive trends. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase functions as an adjective phrase, with the preposition "for" indicating what the year was exceptional for. It is most frequently found in news and academic contexts, where it serves to emphasize the positive aspects of a particular year. When using this phrase, ensure that the context is clear and specific to avoid vagueness. Alternatives such as "a remarkable year for" or "an outstanding year for" can be used for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a remarkable year for

Replaces "exceptional" with "remarkable", emphasizing the noteworthiness of the year.

an outstanding year for

Substitutes "exceptional" with "outstanding", highlighting the superior quality of the year.

a banner year for

Uses "banner" to convey a sense of great success and achievement during the year.

a record-breaking year for

Focuses on the year setting new records or surpassing previous achievements.

a groundbreaking year for

Emphasizes innovation and the introduction of new developments during the year.

a momentous year for

Highlights the historical significance and important events of the year.

a transformative year for

Focuses on the year causing significant and lasting change.

a golden year for

Uses "golden" to signify a year of great prosperity and success.

a breakthrough year for

Highlights major advances and significant progress made during the year.

a vintage year for

Implies the year was of particularly high quality, similar to a fine wine.

FAQs

How can I use "an exceptional year for" in a sentence?

Use "an exceptional year for" to describe a year notable for significant achievements or positive developments. For example, "2022 was "an exceptional year for" scientific breakthroughs in medicine."

What are some alternatives to "an exceptional year for"?

You can use alternatives such as "a remarkable year for", "an outstanding year for", or "a banner year for" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "an exceptional year for" or "a good year for"?

"An exceptional year for" implies more significant achievements or positive developments than "a good year for". Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the degree of success or noteworthiness.

Can "an exceptional year for" be used in a negative context?

While primarily used in positive contexts, "an exceptional year for" could be used ironically or sarcastically in a negative context, though this is less common and depends heavily on the tone and surrounding information. A more direct phrasing would be preferable in negative contexts.