by the year

USAGE SUMMARY

"by the year" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to denote time elapsed from a certain point to the present, or to express an approximate amount of time (e.g., "he has been in the military for eight years by the year 2020"). Example sentence: "We have seen an increase in sales by the year compared to the previous year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

by the year 2005.

The New York Times

$14 by the year.

The New Yorker

The total will expand to 27 by the year 2021.

Stanford University

The statistics are getting worse by the year.

The New York Times

His debt to the owner grew greater by the year.

The New York Times

By the year 2000, it will approach five billion dollars.

The New Yorker

His career was divided by the year 1940.

The Guardian

By the year 1225, all the natives had departed.

The New York Times

By the year 2000, there might be 30 million.

The New York Times

The selective vision this required became weirder by the year.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's an incredible accomplishment that's getting better by the year.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "by the year" to clearly indicate a deadline or target date for achieving a specific goal or reaching a certain milestone.

Common error

Avoid using "by the year" when describing a continuous process or ongoing trend that doesn't have a specific end date. Use phrases like "each year" or "annually" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by the year" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying a point in the future by which something is expected to occur or be completed. Ludwig AI confirms its proper use in indicating deadlines or future targets.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

42%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "by the year" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to indicate a future deadline or target date. Ludwig AI analysis confirms that it is used across diverse contexts, including news, science, and business, with a neutral to professional tone. When using this phrase, ensure it is clearly linked to a specific goal or outcome. While versatile, avoid overusing "by the year" when describing continuous trends and favor alternatives like "each year" or "annually" for recurring yearly events. Finally, it's worth noting that "by the year" is most prevalent in News & Media and Science domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by year's end

Focuses specifically on the end of the current year as a deadline or target.

within the year

Indicates something will happen during the course of the specified year.

in the year

Specifies an event occurring during a particular year.

annually

Implies a yearly recurrence or frequency, rather than a specific deadline.

per year

Expresses a rate or quantity calculated on a yearly basis.

each year

Highlights a trend or event that takes place every year.

on a yearly basis

Similar to "per year", but slightly more formal.

by that point in time

References a specific future time without explicitly mentioning a year.

come [year]

An older, somewhat more literary construction for "in [year]".

leading up to [year]

Focuses on the period of time before a particular year.

FAQs

How do I use "by the year" in a sentence?

Use "by the year" to specify a future time when something is expected to be completed or achieved. For example, "We aim to reduce carbon emissions by 20% "by the year 2020"".

What can I say instead of "by the year"?

Alternatives include "by year's end", "within the year", or "in the year", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "by the year 2025" or "in the year 2025"?

"By the year 2025" indicates a deadline, while "in the year 2025" simply states when something occurred. The choice depends on the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "by the year" and "each year"?

"By the year" sets a target for a specific future date. "Each year" describes something that happens repeatedly on an annual basis. "Each year" the company releases a new product.