by year

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by year" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an event or action that occurs annually or happens after a period of one year. For example, "The company celebrates its birthday by year with a big party."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

Year by year, the good life vanished.

The New Yorker

Year by year its arts programming grows.

The New York Times - Arts

By year end, they were at 56 percent.

The New York Times

By Year 3, the well was drilled.

The New York Times - Magazine

"The economics are definitely year by year.

The New York Times

Year by year his foot got worse.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

These models include state-by-year and region-by-year fixed effects models.

International Journal of Disaster Risk Science

A decision is expected by year-end.

The New York Times

plant by year-end.

Forbes

Blum left by year-end.

Forbes

It debuts by year-end.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "by year" to denote a progression or change occurring annually. For instance, "The company's profits increased by year due to strategic investments."

Common error

Avoid using "by year" when referring to a specific year in the past or future; instead, use "in [year]" or "during [year]" to denote a specific time frame.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by year" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to specify a temporal aspect, indicating that something occurs or is measured on an annual basis. Ludwig provides examples where it describes increases, changes, or targets set annually.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "by year" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase. It indicates that an event, change, or measurement occurs on an annual basis. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is commonly found in contexts such as News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business settings. While adaptable, it is generally considered neutral in register, aligning with more formal reporting and business plans. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure clarity by avoiding its misuse for specific years. Alternatives such as "annually", "each year", and "on a yearly basis" can be used depending on the context to provide similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

each year

This phrase is a direct and simple way to say "by year", focusing on the yearly recurrence.

yearly

This single-word adjective specifies something that is related to or happens every year.

annually

This alternative provides a single-word adverb to express the concept of something occurring every year.

on a yearly basis

This is a more formal and emphatic way to say "by year", stressing the regular and consistent nature of the action.

year-on-year

This phrase is commonly used in business and economics to compare data from one year to the previous year.

year after year

This alternative highlights the continuous repetition of an event or trend over multiple years.

per annum

A formal term, primarily used in financial and statistical contexts, meaning "by year" or "for each year."

within the year

Specifies that something occurs or is completed during the course of a single year.

at the end of the year

This indicates a point in time, specifically the conclusion of a calendar year.

by the close of the year

Similar to 'at the end of the year', this highlights a deadline or finality associated with the year's end.

FAQs

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

Use "by year" to describe something that changes or progresses annually. For example, "Our sales increased "year by year"."

What are some alternatives to saying "by year"?

You can use phrases like "annually", "each year", or "on a yearly basis" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "by year 2024"?

While understandable, it's more precise to say "by the end of 2024" or "in 2024" depending on the intended meaning.

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

"By year" generally indicates a metric or target related to a specific year. "Year by year" emphasizes a gradual change or progression over successive years.