during the previous two years

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "during the previous two years" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a time period that spans the two years leading up to the present moment or a specific point in time. Example: "The company has seen significant growth during the previous two years, expanding its market reach and increasing its revenue."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But during the previous two years they had been flat.

Harvard Business Review

Six went to institutions that had received grants from the trust during the previous two years.

The New York Times

But manufacturing output was estimated to have grown after declines during the previous two years.

The New York Times

Zilberstein hadn't told Righetti much about his work in Moscow during the previous two years.

The New Yorker

He blamed interactions between the two for causing the extraordinary winter snows during the previous two years.

Columbia University

That year, 83 percent of the bank's foreclosures were on loans originated during the previous two years.

The New York Times

Verdi's young's wife died in June 1840, their only two children having died during the previous two years.

The New York Times - Arts

Published online Sept. 29 in the journal Health Economics, the study compared people who went to the dentist during the previous two years with those who did not.

University of California, Berkeley

Almost the opposite was true in 1996, when 67percentt of the boards reported filing suit against at least one apartment owner during the previous two years.

The New York Times

It now prohibits pot use during the previous two years and use of harder drugs, like heroin and cocaine, within the past decade.

The New York Times

Its ratings held steady last season, but that is small comfort: the network had already lost more viewers than the other networks combined during the previous two years.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "during the previous two years" with specific metrics or data points to quantify changes or trends over time. For example, "Sales increased by 20% during the previous two years", providing concrete evidence to support claims.

Common error

Avoid using "previous" and "past" interchangeably without considering the context. While they may seem similar, "previous" implies a direct sequence, whereas "past" refers to a more general time before the present. For clarity, use "during the previous two years" when referring to the immediate two years before a specified point, not just any two years in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "during the previous two years" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun. It specifies a timeframe, indicating that an action or state occurred within the two years immediately preceding a particular point in time. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating its usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "during the previous two years" is a grammatically correct and widely used prepositional phrase that specifies a timeframe covering the two years before a particular point. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability and prevalence across diverse contexts, including news, academia, and science. While variations like "in the last two years" exist, "during the previous two years" offers a versatile and precise way to indicate temporal context, and ensure its reference point is clearly established. This phrase is a solid choice for adding detail to temporal data.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the past two years

Replaces "previous" with "past", a direct synonym, maintaining the same meaning and temporal scope.

over the last two years

Uses "last" instead of "previous", slightly more informal but still indicates the same recent period.

within the last 24 months

Expresses the timeframe in months rather than years, offering greater precision.

during the preceding couple of years

Uses "preceding couple of years", which is slightly more formal but remains semantically equivalent.

in the prior two years

Substitutes "previous" with "prior", maintaining a formal tone and equivalent meaning.

for the two years before

Rephrases to emphasize a point in time before a specific event, implying a period leading up to it.

in the two years leading up to this

Highlights the period leading to a specific moment, adding emphasis on progression towards a point.

the two years immediately before

Adds emphasis on the immediacy of the two-year period before a specified event.

in the two years prior to that

Refers to a specific prior point in time, offering a more conversational alternative.

the two-year period before

Focuses on the period itself, making it the subject, which is useful in technical or formal contexts.

FAQs

What's the difference between "during the previous two years" and "in the last two years"?

Both phrases refer to the same time period, but "during the previous two years" may imply a more formal or academic tone, while "in the last two years" is generally more conversational and common. Semantically, they are interchangeable in most contexts.

How can I rephrase "during the previous two years" to sound less repetitive?

You can use alternatives like "over the last two years", "in the past two years", or "within the last 24 months", depending on the level of precision required.

Is it correct to say "during the prior two years" instead of "during the previous two years"?

Yes, "prior" and "previous" are often used interchangeably in this context. Using "during the prior two years" is grammatically correct and conveys the same meaning, although "previous" may be slightly more common.

Can "during the previous two years" be used to describe future events?

No, "during the previous two years" refers to a time period that has already occurred relative to a specific point in time. To describe a future period, use phrases like "in the next two years" or "over the coming two years".