every three years

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'every three years' is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it whenever you are referring to something that happens every three years. For example: I have a physical checkup every three years.

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Updated versions are published every three years.

Stanford University

They are examined every three years.

The Washington Post

Meetings are held every three years.

Britannica

Every three years we'd try it.

The New York Times

"And every three years, nothing happens".

The New York Times

World wind energy capacity is currently doubling every three years.

World Renewable Energy Congress VI Renewables: The Energy for the 21st Century World Renewable Energy Congress VI 1–7 July 2000 Brighton, UK

Every three years, DF/HCC membership status is reviewed.

Harvard University

Changes its restaurant "concepts" every three years to stay current.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

I wear this tie, like, once every three years.

Cornell University

Recertification is required every three years to maintain your credential.

University of California, Berkeley

Half the chamber's 252 seats are contested every three years.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When clarity is paramount, specify "every three years" instead of "triennially", as the latter might be less familiar to some audiences.

Common error

Avoid assuming "every three years" means a rolling average. It indicates a discrete event occurring at the conclusion of each three-year period, not a continuous process.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "every three years" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase of frequency, modifying a verb to indicate how often an action or event occurs. This is supported by Ludwig's examples, which show the phrase specifying the interval at which meetings are held, membership is reviewed, or data is collected.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

33%

Science

21%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "every three years" serves as a versatile adverbial phrase that specifies frequency across diverse fields. Ludwig AI affirms its grammatical correctness. It is most frequently found in News & Media, Academic and Scientific contexts, indicating its broad applicability. Alternatives include "triennially" and "every third year". While straightforward, it's crucial to distinguish its meaning from similar phrases like "for three years". By using this phrase accurately, writers can clearly communicate temporal patterns and recurring events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

each three years

This variation simply swaps "every" with "each", which is a minimal change in wording.

every third year

This alternative rephrases the original by specifying 'third' instead of providing a count, maintaining semantic equivalence.

once every three years

This version emphasizes the 'once' aspect, highlighting the frequency of the event over the specified duration.

triennially

This is a single-word adverb that means happening every three years. It is a more formal alternative.

at three-year intervals

This alternative uses a noun phrase to describe the spacing of events, providing a more formal tone.

on a triennial basis

This rephrases the original with a slightly more formal tone using 'basis'.

every 36 months

This specifies the interval in months, which can add precision or clarity in certain contexts.

at intervals of three years

This phrase emphasizes the periodic nature of the event with a more descriptive approach.

every three-year period

This version uses 'period' to define the cycle, framing it as a specific duration.

a three-year cycle

This refers to a recurring pattern that happens in the timeframe of three years, changing the structure from an adverbial phrase to a noun phrase.

FAQs

How can I use "every three years" in a sentence?

You can use "every three years" to describe how often something occurs, such as "The conference is held "every three years"".

What's a more formal way to say "every three years"?

A more formal alternative to "every three years" is "triennially", which directly means 'every three years'.

Is it correct to say "each three years" instead of "every three years"?

While understandable, "each three years" is less common than ""every three years"". Both are grammatically acceptable, but the latter is preferred for its conventional usage.

What's the difference between "every three years" and "for three years"?

"Every three years" indicates a recurring event at three-year intervals. "For three years" indicates a duration. For example, "The study lasted "for three years"", but "The data is reviewed "every three years"".