fast forward years

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fast forward years" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to refer to a significant amount of elapsed time between two events. For example, "We fast forward 10 years, and we are now living in a brave new world."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Fast forward years later to our current pop culture era; when you think feminist, you think of beautiful white women like Hillary Clinton, Gloria Steinem, and Taylor Swift.

Vice

I used to buy and hoard several tubes of Tom's back in those days, just out of laziness or to save a few bucks, and so somewhere between that time and fast forward years later, one day I realized the toothpaste changed.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Fast-forward years later in our friendship, and it's becoming a more serious discussion—"Let's do it before I'm 35," or "before I'm 37".

Vice

Now fast forward 5 years, 10 years, even 30 years.

Independent

"Fast forward 30 years," he continues, "and my nine year old daughter suffered from anxiety, too.

Vice

Fast forward 30 years.

The New York Times - Arts

"Let's fast forward two years.

Independent

Fast forward five years and a bit.

The New York Times

Fast forward two years to 11 September 2003.

The Guardian - Travel

Fast forward ten years: will the game look much different?

The New Yorker

Fast forward three years - and months of careful preparation.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fast forward years" to create a sense of temporal distance and emphasize the changes that occur over that time.

Common error

Avoid using "fast forward years" when referring to very short time spans; it implies a more significant duration. For shorter durations, consider using "a few moments later" or similar phrases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fast forward years" functions as a temporal adverbial phrase. It modifies a verb, indicating a jump forward in time. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in narrative contexts to advance the storyline. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is considered correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "fast forward years" is a grammatically correct and usable temporal adverbial phrase that indicates a significant jump in time. While only a few examples are present, Ludwig AI confirms its validity and its common use in news and media. To enhance your writing, remember that this phrase is most effective when emphasizing the changes that occur over an extended duration, and alternatives such as "advance some years" or "in the years that followed" can offer stylistic variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

advance some years

Replaces "fast forward" with a more generic term "advance".

jump ahead a few years

Uses "jump ahead" which implies a quicker transition than "fast forward".

look ahead several years

Shifts the perspective to looking into the future, rather than moving through time.

in the years that followed

Focuses on the period after a specific event.

a few years down the line

More informal way of expressing a time in the future.

years into the future

Emphasizes the duration into the future.

as the years progressed

Highlights the gradual passage of time.

with the passing years

Similar to "as the years progressed", focusing on the passage of time.

subsequent years

Highlights time span after an event

in later years

Highlights the time at an event further in the future

FAQs

How can I use "fast forward years" in a sentence?

You can use "fast forward years" to indicate a jump in time, such as, "Fast forward years later, the small town had become a bustling city".

What's a good alternative to "fast forward years"?

Alternatives include phrases like "advance some years", "jump ahead a few years", or "in the years that followed", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "fast forward years"?

It's appropriate when you want to quickly convey that a significant amount of time has passed and you're shifting the narrative to a later point in time. It is not appropriate for short time spans.

Is "fast forward years" formal or informal?

The phrase is generally considered neutral, suitable for both informal and neutral contexts, especially in narrative writing and journalistic pieces.