as previous years

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as previous years" is not correct in standard written English.
It should be "as in previous years" to convey the intended meaning. Example: "The event will be held in the same location as in previous years."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

"Will we be as strong as previous years?

The New York Times

Stuart McCarthy, director of Parks and Recreation for Westport, said the number of positions the town is filling this summer has stayed the same as previous years.

The New York Times

As in past summers, recent college graduates have arrived in the city with job offers in hand, but not apparently in the same numbers as previous years.

The New York Times

It is not as glamorous as previous years' and, although it was shot in the same location, I bet the production costs were a fraction of last year's.

The Guardian

While 16-year-olds performed virtually the same in maths as previous years, the 15-year-olds did far worse and dragged down the national average.

The Guardian

A spokesman for the mayor, Stu Loeser, said about two dozen Muslim leaders had said they would attend the breakfast, about the same as previous years.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

Income was defined as previous year's gross income (gross of tax and deductibles) and measured as a categorical variable with 17 categories.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

And overall, the district's PTAs are struggling to raise as much as in previous years.

University of California, Berkeley

Both Croatia and Mexico arrived via the playoffs and Cameroon are not as threatening as in previous years.

The Guardian - Sport

Carpet sales were strong, but not as strong as in previous years, Mr. Stone said.

The New York Times

Woods said the greens on the tournament's three courses were not as smooth as in previous years.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using alternative phrases such as "similar to previous years" or "like in previous years" to improve the flow and readability of your writing. Remember to contextualize the phrase; for example, "Sales this quarter were similar to previous years."

Common error

Do not omit the preposition "in" when comparing to previous years. Saying "as previous years" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "as in previous years", "like in previous years", or using "similar to previous years".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as previous years" functions as an adverbial phrase attempting to modify a verb or clause by indicating a comparison to past years. While commonly found, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically questionable, suggesting the need for a preposition for grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Academia

20%

Science

8%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "as previous years" is frequently used to make comparisons with past years, particularly in contexts such as news and media. However, Ludwig AI indicates that it's grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "as in previous years", or alternatives such as "similar to previous years" or "like in previous years". While the phrase is relatively common, especially in news and media, it is crucial to prioritize grammatical accuracy, particularly in formal writing. Using the correct form ensures clear communication and avoids potential misunderstandings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

like in previous years

Uses "like" instead of "as", providing a grammatically sound comparison.

as in past years

Replaces "previous" with "past" for a similar meaning.

similar to previous years

Employs "similar to" for a more direct comparison.

consistent with previous years

Highlights the consistency across years.

the same as in prior years

Substitutes "previous" with "prior" maintaining a formal tone.

identical to previous years

Indicates an exact match with prior years.

in line with previous years

Suggests alignment or agreement with prior years' trends.

following previous years' trends

Focuses on the continuation of trends from past years.

mirroring previous years

Implies a close resemblance to the patterns of past years.

as has been the case in previous years

A more elaborate way of stating the comparison, emphasizing the established pattern.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "as previous years"?

The correct phrasing is "as in previous years". You can also use alternatives like "similar to previous years" or "like in previous years" depending on the context.

Is "as previous years" grammatically correct?

No, "as previous years" is not grammatically correct. The proper form includes the preposition "in", making it "as in previous years".

What can I say instead of "as previous years"?

You can use alternatives like "like in previous years", "similar to previous years", or "as in past years" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "as previous years" and "as in previous years"?

The phrase "as previous years" is grammatically incorrect, lacking the necessary preposition. The correct and commonly used phrase is "as in previous years", which establishes a clear comparison to past years.