during many years

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "during many years" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is generally used to express an extended period of time. Example: My grandmother has worked at the same company during many years.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Starrett-Lehigh maintained its industrial character during many years of ownership by Helmsley-Spear.

The New York Times

I have seen this scenario repeatedly during many years consulting on medical and surgery units of hospitals.

The New York Times

In a letter to his staffat Bellevue, Dr. Rovenstine describes the condition in hospitals in that country, the inadequate training medical men have received during many years.

The New Yorker

The constant false propaganda for more and more tax cuts is a direct threat to my benefits, for which I paid during many years of employment.

The New York Times

As a journalist, particularly during many years writing domestic politics, I was inclined to compare policy decisions with those of other countries, not other Australian cities or states.

The Guardian - Opinion

As a former New York City public advocate and during many years in public service, I have had the honor to work with Mr. Ratner.

The New York Times

Mr. Hagemann's work as an opera composer grew from his long experience conducting choruses and writing choral pieces during many years as a public school teacher in suburban New York.

The New York Times - Arts

The Brooklyn Museum incident may have been an example of Mr. Leventhal's political sensitivities, which his admirers say are important to the president's position and which were honed during many years in government.

The New York Times - Arts

But the old minister, before reaching his patriarchal age of 90, ate the apples from this orchard during many years, and added silver and gold to his annual stipend, by disposing of the superfluity.

The Guardian - Books

This has been what it's felt like for me during many years of opera-going, a habit I developed in the 80s when I paid £6 for a seat at the same time as people were telling me they couldn't afford to go themselves because tickets were "stratospherically" expensive.

The Guardian - Music

Ms. Zagari, a models' agent who supported Rammellzee during many years when he had little money coming in, said that the more reclusive he became, the more relentlessly he was sought out by fans and by scholars of urban culture, science fiction adepts and philosophy students.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "during many years", ensure the context clearly indicates the relevance or impact of this extended duration. For example, "The company has built strong relationships with its clients during many years of dedicated service."

Common error

Avoid using "during many years" when the timeframe is already clear from the surrounding context. For example, instead of saying "During many years of his life, he lived abroad", consider "He lived abroad for many years" or "He lived abroad for decades".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "during many years" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses by specifying the timeframe in which an action or state occurs. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is grammatically sound and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

43%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "during many years" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to denote an extended period. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, adding temporal context to various actions or states. While adaptable to neutral or formal registers, it’s crucial to avoid redundancy by ensuring that its use enhances clarity. Alternative phrases like "over many years" and "for many years" offer similar meanings, depending on the specific nuance needed. The phrase is prominently used in both scientific and news-related contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

over many years

Emphasizes the passage or covering of a span of time.

for many years

Highlights the duration or extent to which something has persisted.

across many years

Suggests a distribution or occurrence throughout a period.

throughout many years

Indicates something happening continuously within the duration.

in numerous years

Uses "numerous" to emphasize the large quantity of years.

over the course of many years

Adds emphasis on the progression and unfolding of events.

for a considerable number of years

Replaces "many" with a more descriptive term.

for a long duration

Simplifies to express a general long timeframe.

in the course of decades

Uses "decades" to specify multiple ten-year periods.

across a lengthy period

Generalizes to a long period without stating quantity.

FAQs

How can I use "during many years" in a sentence?

The phrase "during many years" is used to indicate that something happened, existed, or developed over a lengthy period. For instance, "During many years of research, they gathered substantial data".

What phrases are similar to "during many years"?

Alternatives include phrases like "over many years", "for many years", or "across many years", which all convey the idea of a prolonged duration.

Is it more appropriate to use "during many years" or "over many years"?

Both "during many years" and "over many years" are correct and often interchangeable. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. "During" emphasizes that something occurs within that timeframe, while "over" highlights the spanning of the time period.

What is the difference between "during several years" and "during many years"?

"During several years" suggests a period of more than two years but less than many. "During many years" implies a significantly longer and unspecified period of time, suggesting numerous years or a substantial portion of time.