certain years

USAGE SUMMARY

"certain years" is grammatically correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to multiple years in the past, present, or future. For example: "We are all hoping for better times in the coming certain years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"We could impose our will certain years.

The New York Times - Sports

(The fact that certain years were considered unlucky made the deadline pressure even more severe).

The Economist

Among economists who know their history, the mere mention of certain years evokes shivers.

The New York Times

CERTAIN years -- 1492, 1776, 1898, 1914 are examples -- mark turning points in history.

The New York Times - Books

In certain years El Niño becomes much stronger, forcing the Peru Current to the south.

Britannica

In certain properties in certain years, it can make or break the entire quarter".

The New York Times

From certain years to now, I protected Madiba [his clan name] against that.

The Guardian

(d) which related to aggregate principal amounts of qualified loans and limits on provision of guarantees during certain years.

Cornell University

"But what we still don't know is why are these hot spots hotter in certain years than others," Trainer said.

The Guardian

The averaged SFBs were 1 14 weeks during the study period and the maximum intermittence could even reach 25 weeks in certain years.

Journal of Hydrology

Coastal mangroves lose large amounts of water through evapotranspiration (ET) that can be equivalent to the amount of annual rainfall in certain years.

Agricultural and Forest Meteorology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "certain years", ensure the context provides enough information or clarity about which years you are referring to, or why they are significant.

Common error

Avoid using "certain years" without providing any context. If the specific years are relevant, state them directly for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "certain years" functions as a determiner + noun combination, specifying multiple years that share a common, often unspecified, characteristic. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

9%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "certain years" is a grammatically correct and versatile way to refer to multiple years, especially when the exact years are either less important or understood within the context. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, this phrase is commonly used across a variety of fields like news, science, and academia. When using "certain years", consider providing enough context to avoid vagueness and ensure clarity for your audience. Alternatives like "specific years" or "particular years" can offer more precision if needed. The phrase demonstrates a neutral register, fitting diverse writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

specific years

Replaces "certain" with "specific", emphasizing particularity and detail.

particular years

Similar to "specific years", but may suggest a more subjective selection.

given years

Indicates years that are predetermined or already known.

designated years

Suggests a formal or official selection of years.

specified years

Implies that the years have been explicitly mentioned or defined.

select years

Suggests a careful or deliberate choice of years.

some years

A more general reference to an unspecified number of years.

a number of years

Indicates multiple years, without specifying which ones.

various years

Implies a range or variety of different years.

defined time frame

Emphasizes a specific beginning and end to the period.

FAQs

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

You can use "certain years" to refer to specific periods when details matter, as in "During "certain years", economic growth was exceptionally high".

What's a good alternative to "certain years"?

Alternatives include "specific years", "particular years", or "designated years", depending on the context.

Is it better to use "certain years" or "specific years"?

Both phrases are correct, but "specific years" implies more precision, while "certain years" can be used when the exact years are less important or already understood.

What does "certain years" mean?

"Certain years" refers to a set of years that are either known within a context, or whose exact identity is not critical to the point being made.