differ from year to year

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "differ from year to year" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe changes or variations that occur annually. Example: "The weather patterns in this region tend to differ from year to year, making it difficult to predict the best time for planting crops."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Will they differ from year to year?

The New York Times - Food

The Dupont is always vintage dated, and the ciders clearly differ from year to year.

The New York Times - Food

Please be aware that future tuition costs, fees, and standard student budget amounts may differ from year to year.

Harvard University

Bang on cue, Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, is quoted denouncing the idea, saying that "children and young people differ from year to year, making it impossible to measure progress in simplistic terms" (translation: don't blame teachers for bad results, blame the children), and calling performance-related pay "divisive" (well yes, that's the point).

The Economist

Agendas differ from year to year but we usually have something that is focused around leadership and management.

TechCrunch

The changes in the stored biosolids might have caused changes in nutrient availability, which in turn caused microbial populations to differ from year to year, ultimately affecting nematode populations.

International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

The heritability estimates calculated for each trait differed from year to year.

Industrial Crops and Products

And though the details have differed from year to year, one goal has remained constant: to reduce the spread of H.I.V. in a state with one of the nation's highest infection rates.

The New York Times

(Work-place readiness was a high priority and each cohort completed a different kind of group project, which is not discussed in this paper. Other resources or activities that differed from year to year are not discussed either).

International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education

The extent to which patient characteristics and type of medical intervention (together: case-mix variables) explained the variance in LOS, differed from year to year and between selected diagnoses and procedures.

BMC Health Services Research

This observation is inconsistent with previously observed predominant strain, G3P[8] in China,, suggesting that the distribution of RV strains differ from year-to-year.

Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing trends or patterns over time, use "differ from year to year" to emphasize that there is no consistent annual pattern. For example: 'Crop yields in this region often "differ from year to year" due to unpredictable weather patterns.'

Common error

Avoid using "differ from year to year" in sentences where a simpler phrase like 'vary annually' would suffice. Overusing longer phrases can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "differ from year to year" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the manner in which something changes or varies annually. This is supported by Ludwig AI, as well as the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

33%

Academia

27%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "differ from year to year" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe variations that occur annually without a predictable pattern. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its primary function is adverbial, serving to modify verbs and convey the manner of change. The phrase is suitable for various registers, from academic and scientific writing to news articles, demonstrating its versatility. When using this phrase, consider whether a simpler alternative like "vary annually" might be more appropriate for concise writing. Be mindful of the context to ensure clarity and avoid unnecessary complexity in your sentences. Given its frequent occurrence in scientific literature, it is a useful phrase for describing research findings and experimental results that fluctuate over time.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

vary annually

This alternative is more concise and uses the adverb 'annually' to indicate yearly variation.

change each year

This alternative uses simpler vocabulary to convey the same meaning of yearly change.

show yearly differences

This option directly indicates that there are differences observable each year.

fluctuate yearly

This suggests irregular variation from year to year.

change on a yearly basis

This uses a more descriptive adverbial phrase to specify the frequency of change.

exhibit annual variations

This phrase is more formal and emphasizes the presence of variations that occur each year.

are not consistent year to year

This expresses the idea of inconsistency between different years.

shift from one year to the next

Implies a progressive change or alteration over successive years.

have annual discrepancies

Highlights inconsistencies or disagreements that occur annually.

diverge each year

Suggests a move away from a common point or standard over successive years.

FAQs

What does "differ from year to year" mean?

The phrase "differ from year to year" means that something changes or varies annually, without a predictable pattern.

How can I use "differ from year to year" in a sentence?

You can use "differ from year to year" to describe aspects that fluctuate annually. For instance: 'The company's profits often "vary annually"' or 'The weather patterns "change each year"'.

What are some alternatives to "differ from year to year"?

Some alternatives include "vary annually", "change each year", or "fluctuate yearly", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more formal to say "differ from year to year" or "vary annually"?

"Differ from year to year" is generally considered neutral, while "vary annually" can come off as slightly more formal due to the use of the adverb. However, the most appropriate choice depends on the context and intended audience.