both years

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "both years" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to two specific years in a comparative or inclusive context. Example: "The project was successful in both years, leading to increased funding for future initiatives."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Phil got him both years.

The New York Times

(Dr. Raglin competed in the event both years).

The New York Times

Thin layers were observed in both years.

Continental Shelf Research

Democrats suffered major losses in both years.

The Washington Post

Secretaries would get 8.8percentt both years.

The New York Times

a. positive growth in both years b.

The New York Times

An outline of activities for both years is given below.

Cornell University

Students engage in coursework throughout both years in the program.

Columbia University

In both years, assignments had both online and written components.

Education for Chemical Engineers

Triadimenol and carboxin + thiram increased seed germination in both years.

Crop Protection

The overall FACE water saving across both years was 11.8%.

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "both years", ensure the context clearly defines which two years are being referenced to avoid ambiguity. For instance, specify the years immediately before using the phrase.

Common error

Avoid using "both years" without explicitly stating or implying the specific years you are referring to. Ambiguous references can confuse readers and weaken your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "both years" functions as a determiner phrase, specifying a quantity of time. As Ludwig AI shows, it is frequently used to indicate that a particular event, condition, or result occurred in each of two specific years. This can be seen in examples like "Democrats suffered major losses in both years" and "Students engage in coursework throughout both years in the program."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

45%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

2%

Science & Research

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "both years" is a grammatically sound and very commonly used determiner phrase, used across different source types to specify that something applies to two particular years. As Ludwig AI highlights, the phrase is suitable for news, scientific, and academic contexts, although it is less common in informal settings. Ensure that when using "both years", the context clearly indicates which two years you are referring to, which improves clarity and avoids ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the two years

Directly replaces "both" with its numerical equivalent, maintaining identical meaning.

each of the years

Emphasizes individuality of each year within the pair, subtly shifting focus.

in both of those years

Adds demonstrative pronoun for specificity, slightly increasing formality.

during the two-year period

Rephrases as a defined duration, suitable when emphasizing duration.

over those two years

Highlights the span of time, suitable for discussing changes or trends.

throughout the pair of years

Formal alternative, emphasizing continuity across the time period.

across the two years

Similar to "over those two years", emphasizing the span of time considered.

in those years

Slightly less specific, but usable if the two years have already been explicitly mentioned.

the aforementioned years

Suitable when referring to years previously discussed, adding a formal tone.

during those years

Similar to "in those years", focusing on events that happened within that time.

FAQs

How can I use "both years" in a sentence?

You can use "both years" to refer to a specific two-year period, such as: "The company saw increased profits in "the two years" following the merger."

What can I say instead of "both years"?

Alternatives include ""the two years"", "each of the years", or "in both of those years", depending on the context.

Is it necessary to specify the years when using "both years"?

Yes, it's best to provide context so that the years being referenced are clear to the reader. Without context, the phrase can be ambiguous.

Which is correct, "during both years" or "in both years"?

Both are generally acceptable, though "in both years" is slightly more common when discussing events or data within those years. "during both years" can be used to emphasize the timeframe.