during my first years

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "during my first years" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a specific period of time in someone's early life or career. Example: "During my first years in college, I struggled to balance my studies and social life."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

I quickly flicked to the 1940s and 50s on the OED site to see which words came in during my first years of existence.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I certainly would not have expected during my first years on the court to have written an opinion like I did in Baze," he said, referring to Baze v. Rees, the 2008 decision that rejected a challenge to lethal injections.

The New York Times

Their approach is one that I could have used during my first years going to festivals as a raver.

Vice

I have to thank my first boyfriend, because I lived with him during my first years of acting.

Vice

I made them mostly for myself during my first years with a small baby, because I couldn't relate to the depictions of motherhood available to me.

Vice

During my first years in the U.S., Mao assumed a role as our fourth family member.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

"I spent eight months on the road organizing during my first year in college".

The New Yorker

"They have 6-22 on them, the record of the team during my first year here".

The New York Times

It was during my first year of university that I first self harmed.

The Guardian

I've lived at home during my first year and I really regret it.

The Guardian

"I didn't like sitting during my first year here, but I learned.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "during my first years", ensure that the context clearly indicates what "years" refers to, such as "during my first years in college" or "during my first years as a teacher".

Common error

A common mistake is not providing enough context. To avoid confusion, specify what the "first years" pertain to. For example, instead of just saying "During my first years, I struggled", clarify it to "During my first years at the company, I struggled with the workload."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "during my first years" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun by specifying a timeframe. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it sets the temporal context for an event or experience. For example, the sentence "During my first years at Rutgers, I worked on issues related to women in science while reinventing my research career" illustrates how the phrase indicates the time frame within which the action occurred.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science & Research

20%

Vice

10%

Less common in

Huffington Post

10%

The Guardian

10%

The New Yorker

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "during my first years" serves as a temporal marker, specifying that an event transpired in the beginning of a certain period. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. It is most commonly found in news and media, as well as in scientific contexts. To ensure clarity, it is advisable to specify what the "first years" pertain to, such as "during my first years in college" or "during my first years as a teacher". While there are many possible alternatives such as "in my initial years" or "in my early days", it is important to select the substitute that most appropriately fits with the desired tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in my initial years

Uses "initial" instead of "first", emphasizing the beginning phase.

during my early days

Replaces "years" with "days", which can suggest a shorter or less defined time frame.

in my beginning years

Substitutes "first" with "beginning", highlighting the commencement of an era.

throughout my first few years

Adds "few" to specify a limited number of years, implying a shorter duration.

in the earliest years of my life

Expands the phrase to include "of my life", providing a more personal context.

during the start of my career

Focuses specifically on the initial phase of a professional journey.

when I was just starting out

Uses a more informal expression to refer to the early stages of an endeavor.

in my freshman years

More specific, referring to the first year, often in college or high school.

during my introductory period

Replaces "years" with the more formal "period", emphasizing the initial phase of something.

at the dawn of my experience

Employs a metaphorical expression to describe the beginning of one's journey.

FAQs

How can I use "during my first years" in a sentence?

You can use "during my first years" to describe a period of time early in a specific experience. For example: "During my first years in college, I learned a lot about myself."

What's a more formal way to say "during my first years"?

A more formal alternative could be "in my initial years" or "during the commencement of my career/experience".

Is it better to say "during my first year" or "during my first years"?

Use "during my first year" when referring to a single year, and "during my first years" when referring to a period of multiple years.

What can I say instead of "during my first years" to sound more casual?

For a more casual tone, you might say "when I was just starting out" or "in my early days".