during several years

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "during several years" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to a past period of time that was longer than a few months but not long enough to be considered multiple decades. For example: My family lived in the same house during several years before finally moving to a new city.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

42 The course of the disease is variable and could go from a rapid progression leading to severe disabilities to clinical silence during several years.

Application of Clinical Genetics

He added that his family had never visited him during several years of work here.

The New York Times

Under scenarios (i) and (iv), the salinized area expands several kilometers further inland during several years.

Journal of Contaminant Hydrology

A common experimentation procedure was applied over months, except for some cases, and during several years.

Energy

At the Assalaam Foundation, traditional circumcisers say they learn the practice from other women during several years of apprenticing.

The New York Times - Magazine

Rousseff herself, who served as chairwoman of Petrobras's board during several years as the graft took place, isn't implicated.

The Guardian

At least 30 of them, one as young as 17, are known to have died during several years of conflict.

The Guardian

Mr. Andrew was chairman of the national party during several years of the administration of former President Bill Clinton.

The New York Times

Applied to the acts of a state during several years of war, the adjective "neutral" is almost inevitably inadequate.

The New York Times

Underinvestment in road infrastructure during several years in Belgium is a root cause of several problems in its three regions.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

This test site is equipped with a series of seventeen wells in which the temporal fluctuations of water heads associated with megatidal forcing were recorded during several years.

Journal of Hydrology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "during several years", ensure the context provides a clear understanding of the specific timeframe being referenced. For example, specify start and end dates if possible.

Common error

Avoid using "during several years" when the actions or events described actually occurred intermittently or only within a portion of those years. Be precise about temporal overlap.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "during several years" functions as a prepositional phrase, specifically an adverbial phrase of time. It modifies a verb or clause by indicating when something happened, offering a timeframe of multiple years. Ludwig's examples showcase this across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

36%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "during several years" is a grammatically correct and frequently used prepositional phrase that specifies a period of time encompassing multiple years. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's usable in a variety of contexts, particularly within scientific and news-related writing. While suitable alternatives exist, the choice often depends on the desired level of formality and emphasis. To ensure clarity, provide specific context related to the timeline. While generally neutral, source context and adjacent vocabulary may skew formality level. In conclusion, the evidence points to "during several years" as a valuable and reliable phrase for specifying durations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

over a few years

This alternative uses "few" instead of "several", implying a slightly shorter timeframe.

for a number of years

This alternative uses a more formal phrasing to indicate a similar duration.

across some years

This alternative emphasizes the distribution of events over a period, similar to "during several years".

throughout those years

This alternative specifies a period with a beginning and end.

in the course of some years

This alternative is a more formal way of saying "during several years".

spanning several years

This alternative emphasizes the continuous duration of the period.

across a span of years

Similar to spanning, this highlights the extent of the duration.

over a multi-year period

This alternative is a more technical and explicit way of expressing a duration of several years.

in the time frame of several years

This alternative is a longer, more descriptive phrasing.

for a period of multiple years

This alternative provides a more descriptive variation, emphasizing the plural nature of years.

FAQs

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

You can use "during several years" to indicate a period of time over which something occurred. For example, "The company's profits increased "during several years" of economic expansion."

What's a more formal alternative to "during several years"?

A more formal alternative could be "for a number of years" or "over a multi-year period" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "throughout several years" instead of "during several years"?

"Throughout several years" can work, but ""during several years"" is often more appropriate when describing events occurring within that timeframe, rather than something consistent across the entire period.

What is the difference between "during several years" and "in recent years"?

"During several years" refers to a specific past period, while "in recent years" refers to the more immediate past leading up to the present.