compared with years

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "compared with years" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when making a comparison between a specific time frame and a duration of years. Example: "The results of this study show significant improvement compared with years past."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Compared with years past, the festival is slightly smaller, but still big enough to overwhelm any consumer.

The New York Times

Already there seems to be a spike in postsummer travel, compared with years past, and anecdotal evidence seems to point to the summer-that-never-was phenomenon.

The New York Times - Travel

Compared with years past, American teenagers have been postponing sexual activity, beginning sex on average at 17. Teenage childbearing rates have dropped sharply in the past 50 years.

The New York Times

Already, there are signs that the cave is drying out -- compared with years before the cave opened last November, the average temperature is up 1 degree and in some spots humidity dropped by half a percent and evaporation rates quadrupled.

The New York Times - Science

In the Brandon Acres-Cedar Terrace neighborhood — some 250 homes spread over a former plantation — the number of burglaries last year roughly quadrupled compared with years past, said Tige Watts, who leads the local community association.

The New York Times

Teal (Anas crecca) showed a 2 97-fold increase when shore-based shooting was totally banned, compared with years when shore-based shooting was unregulated or diurnally regulated.

Biological Conservation

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

The earnings were compared with year-ago results that included a gain on a large legal settlement.

The New York Times

Lennar, which caters to first-time homeowners, sold 2,691 homes in the quarter, down 29percentt compared with year-ago levels.

The New York Times

Last year's fourth-quarter operating profit, excluding a special charge, declined 22percentt compared with year-earlier figures.

The New York Times

During year 2, the magnitude of the improvement was lower compared with year 1.

British Journal of Ophthalmology

Year 2 students attempted more cases (Tables  5 and 6) compared with Year 1.

BMC Medical Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "compared with years", be specific about the years you are comparing to provide clear context for your reader.

Common error

Avoid using "compared with years" without specifying which years are being compared. Vague comparisons can confuse your audience and weaken your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "compared with years" functions as a prepositional phrase used to introduce a basis for comparison, highlighting changes or similarities over time. Ludwig provides numerous examples where this phrase sets the stage for contrasting current conditions with those of previous years.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

43%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "compared with years" is a useful tool for establishing context and showcasing trends over time. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its grammatical function is to set the stage for comparison, clarifying the significance of present data relative to past periods. Found frequently in news and scientific articles, it maintains a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. To use it effectively, ensure you specify which years you're comparing to avoid vagueness, enhancing clarity and strengthening your arguments. Related phrases such as "in contrast to prior years" or "relative to previous years" can offer nuanced alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in contrast to prior years

Changes the preposition and adds 'prior' for emphasis on previous time.

as opposed to past years

Replaces 'compared' with 'opposed' and 'years' with 'past years' to give a different tone.

relative to previous years

Emphasizes a relational comparison rather than a direct one.

in comparison with earlier years

Substitutes 'earlier' for 'past' to specify a temporal difference.

when contrasted with former years

Uses 'contrasted' to highlight the differences being examined.

compared against historical years

Replaces 'with' with 'against' and 'past' with 'historical' to suggest a broader scope of comparison.

in relation to preceding years

Offers a formal tone, focusing on the relationship between time periods.

assessed against bygone years

Uses 'assessed' to imply an evaluation and 'bygone' to refer to the distant past.

measured against the years before

Focuses on a specific measurement against a defined prior period.

juxtaposed with the years gone by

Implies a side-by-side comparison emphasizing the passage of time.

FAQs

How can I use "compared with years" in a sentence?

You can use "compared with years" to show a difference or similarity between the present and the past. For example, "The company's profits have increased "compared with years" prior."

What's a simpler way to say "compared with years"?

Alternatives include "compared to previous years", "in contrast to earlier years", or "relative to past years", offering varied phrasing for similar comparisons.

Is it better to say "compared to years" or "compared with years"?

Both "compared to years" and ""compared with years"" are acceptable, but "compared with" is often preferred in formal writing when highlighting similarities or differences.

What's the difference between "compared with years ago" and ""compared with years""?

"Compared with years ago" specifies a comparison to a point in the past, while ""compared with years"" makes a more general comparison to a period of time.