every decade

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "every decade" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to each ten-year period in a sequence, often when discussing trends, events, or changes over time. Example: "Every decade, the technology industry experiences significant advancements that reshape our daily lives."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

One comes along every decade.

The Economist

It happens every decade, after the census.

The New York Times

Every decade has an It.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Every decade, he had some seminal papers.

Cornell University

And every decade brings more change.

Harvard University

Almost every decade, new things came out.

Cornell University

The anniversary conference occurs once every decade.

Harvard University

A.Reinvigorate and rejuvenate your company every decade.

The New York Times - Sports

It gets more cosmopolitan every decade.

The New York Times

And Bowie had changed "every decade".

The Guardian - Music

It happens perhaps once every decade.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "every decade" to discuss long-term trends or recurring events that happen within each ten-year span. This phrase helps establish a clear timeframe for analysis or historical context.

Common error

Avoid using "every decade" when referring to events that occur multiple times within a single decade. Ensure the context aligns with a once-per-decade frequency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "every decade" functions as an adverbial phrase of frequency, specifying how often something occurs. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Academia

29%

Science

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "every decade" is a grammatically sound and versatile way to describe events, trends, or changes occurring within each ten-year period. As Ludwig AI confirms, its frequency and wide distribution across diverse sources – including news, academia, and science – underscore its general applicability. It is particularly useful for establishing a clear timeframe and comparing developments across different eras. When using "every decade", ensure the context reflects a frequency of once per decade, distinguishing it from phrases like "for decades" that denote a longer, continuous duration. While there are alternatives, such as "each decade" or "per decade", "every decade" provides a balance of conciseness and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

each decade

This alternative directly substitutes "every" with "each", maintaining the exact meaning and focusing on individual ten-year periods.

per decade

This alternative uses "per" to indicate a rate or frequency for each ten-year period, suitable for statistical or comparative contexts.

every ten years

This alternative explicitly states the time frame, providing clarity and directness.

decennially

This adverb form means happening once every ten years, offering a more formal and concise way to express the concept.

for each decade

This is an alternative way to point out that the rate, average or trend refers to an each period of 10 years.

once a decade

This alternative emphasizes the infrequency of an event, highlighting that it occurs only every ten years.

at ten-year intervals

This alternative is more explicit about the frequency of occurrences and intervals.

at intervals of ten years

This phrase provides a more descriptive and formal way of specifying the recurring time period.

on a decennial basis

This is a more formal way of saying "every decade" indicating that something is calculated or evaluated in 10-year increments.

in each ten-year period

This alternative is more descriptive, suitable for emphasizing that each specific ten-year block is being considered.

FAQs

How can I use "every decade" in a sentence?

Use "every decade" to describe trends, changes, or events that recur or are characteristic of each ten-year period. For example, "Every decade, technology introduces new innovations that transform society."

What are some alternatives to "every decade"?

Alternatives include "each decade", "per decade", "decennially", and "once a decade", which can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "in every decade" instead of "every decade"?

While grammatically understandable, "every decade" is generally more concise and common. "In every decade" can be used for emphasis but is often unnecessary.

How does the meaning of "every decade" differ from "for decades"?

"Every decade" refers to each individual ten-year period, whereas "for decades" indicates a continuous period spanning multiple decades. The former emphasizes recurring instances, while the latter indicates duration.