around three years

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "around three years" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when estimating a duration of time that is approximately three years, often in informal contexts. Example: "I lived in that city for around three years before moving to another state."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

It took around three years to build, with construction completed in July 2011.

The New York Times

Studies in postmenopausal women with relative short follow-up periods (around three years) showed no or minimally significant elevated mortality rates [ 5, 63, 64].

Arthritis Research and Therapy

They usually have around three years' more education as well.

The Economist

So, of the drafted rookies, less than half will still be around three years from now.

The New York Times - Sports

The Americana category, which has only been around three years, is one to watch.

The New York Times - Arts

It's very accurate and should pay itself off in around three years.

The Guardian - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

I was invited there around three years ago by the Aman hotels.

The New York Times

The two began palling around three years ago.

The New York Times - Sports

The 82-year-old retiree in Bad Münstereifel, Germany had lost his gold wedding band around three years ago. .

Huffington Post

The couple began dating around three years ago and confirmed their engagement last month.

Independent

Around three years ago, Cheshire East also adopted the Hackney model's pod system.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider your audience and context. While "around three years" is widely understood, it is less precise than alternatives like "approximately three years" or specifying the duration in months.

Common error

While "around three years" is acceptable, avoid overusing "around" in formal documents. Vary your language with phrases like "approximately", "nearly", or provide a specific range.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "around three years" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause by indicating a duration of time. It specifies an approximate length of time, as demonstrated by examples from Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "around three years" is a common and grammatically sound way to approximate a duration. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is suitable across various contexts, though it's less formal than alternatives like "approximately three years". Predominantly found in News & Media, it serves to provide an estimate of time, indicating a period close to, but not necessarily exactly, three years. For more precise or formal settings, consider using alternative phrases.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately three years

Replaces "around" with a more formal synonym, maintaining the sense of estimation.

about three years

Uses a more casual synonym for "around", slightly decreasing formality.

roughly three years

Similar to "approximately" but with a slightly less precise connotation.

close to three years

Emphasizes the proximity to the three-year mark.

in the vicinity of three years

A more verbose and formal way of saying approximately three years.

nearly three years

Highlights that the duration is just short of three years.

almost three years

Similar to "nearly", indicating a duration close to, but not quite, three years.

three or so years

A more informal way to indicate an approximate duration.

two to three years

Specifies a range of time that includes the three-year mark.

in three years

Specifies a period that will end in three years.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "around three years"?

You can use alternatives like "approximately three years", "nearly three years", or "about three years" depending on the context.

Is it okay to use "around three years" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "around three years" is generally better suited for informal contexts. In formal writing, consider using "approximately three years" or providing a more precise timeframe.

Which is correct, "around three years" or "in three years"?

Both are correct but have different meanings. "Around three years" indicates an approximate duration, while "in three years" refers to a point in the future, three years from now.

Can I use "almost three years" instead of "around three years"?

Yes, "almost three years" is a suitable alternative when you want to emphasize that the duration is slightly less than three years. "Around three years" is a more general approximation.