by the third year

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by the third year" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a specific point in time, typically referring to the completion of a task or achievement within a three-year timeframe. Example: "By the third year, we expect to have fully implemented the new system across all departments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

By the third year, the fair was firmly established.

Independent

By the third year, they had declined by 15.9percentt.

The New York Times

"And by the third year, they'll be gangbusters".

The New York Times - Style

"Definitely, if you're not profitable by the third year, something is amiss," Carey said.

The New Yorker

"By the third year," Brown said, "we had won most people over".

The New Yorker

"By the third year, after we lost all of our money, we closed the doors".

The New York Times

By the third year of marriage, she was doing everything by herself.

The New York Times - Style

"By the third year, we really knew we were good," Brennan said.

The New York Times - Sports

By the third year, bulls tend to slow down, posting average gains of just 4percentt.

The New York Times

By the third year, we finally tell the students what is interesting about all of this.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

By the third year of the NeoKIP trial, the risk of neonatal mortality was 49%% lower in the intervention communes than in the control communes [ 22].

BMC Public Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "by the third year", clearly specify what benchmark or event is expected to be achieved or completed. This provides context and clarifies the intended meaning.

Common error

Avoid using future tenses with "by the third year" when discussing past events. Use past perfect or simple past to maintain chronological accuracy. For instance, instead of "By the third year, we will see improvements", use "By the third year, we saw improvements" or "By the third year, we had seen improvements".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by the third year" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase of time. It modifies a verb or clause, indicating when a particular action or state is expected to occur. It's a common way to express time-bound expectations or deadlines, as evidenced by examples in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

36%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "by the third year" is a versatile and frequently used adverbial phrase to set a timeline or deadline. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usage across various domains, especially in News & Media, Science and Formal & Business settings. When using this phrase, it is important to clearly specify the goal or event expected within that timeframe and maintain consistent tense usage to prevent confusion. While generally neutral in tone, the formality of the phrase can be adjusted based on the context and surrounding language. Alternatives such as "in the third year" or "at the end of the third year" can offer nuanced meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by year three

Simplified version using "year" instead of "third year".

in the third year

Replaces 'by' with 'in', focusing on the time period rather than the deadline.

during the third year

Similar to 'in the third year', but emphasizes the duration of the year.

at the end of the third year

Specifies that the event occurs at the conclusion of the third year.

at the three-year mark

Emphasizes that something happens at a specific point of time.

upon reaching the third year

More formal; indicates an event happening when the third year is attained.

completing the third year

Focuses on the action of finishing the year.

within three years

Indicates that something happens before or during the third year, not necessarily at a specific point.

after two years

Highlights the completion of two years as a prerequisite.

three years later

Emphasizes the passage of time from an initial event.

FAQs

How can I use "by the third year" in a sentence?

Use "by the third year" to indicate a deadline or a point in time when something is expected to be completed or achieved. For example, "By the third year, the company aims to be profitable."

What are some alternatives to saying "by the third year"?

You can use alternatives like "in the third year", "during the third year", or "at the end of the third year" depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to specify what happens "by the third year"?

Yes, it's best to clearly state what is expected or achieved "by the third year" to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of saying just "By the third year," specify "By the third year, sales will triple."

What is the difference between "by the third year" and "within three years"?

"By the third year" indicates a specific point in time—the end of the third year. "Within three years", on the other hand, means at any point during the three-year period.