five years apart

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "five years apart" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the age difference or time difference between two events or individuals. Example: "The two siblings were born five years apart, which allowed them to have different childhood experiences."

✓ Grammatically correct

Relationships (age difference between siblings, partners, etc.)

Time intervals between events

Differences in graduation years

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The brothers, five years apart, grew up to do everything together.

The New York Times - Books

Born only five years apart, Picasso and Rivera demonstrated prodigious talent from an early age.

The Guardian - Arts

The two fires for which the Hammonds were convicted took place five years apart.

The Washington Post

Though the brothers were five years apart, they were inseparable growing up in Washington Heights.

The New York Times

"I started buying 10 years apart, and then five years apart, and then filling in," he said.

The New York Times

More are repeat clients, seeking to take care of multiple babies by different adult children, four or five years apart.

The Economist

Two Korean-American men, five years apart, walked into their former places of education and executed innocent students.

The New York Times - Magazine

In their marriage, they had endured five years apart during four of Taylor's deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, he wrote.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

"His name was Lead Belly and this was one of his songs". Plant's fascinating story of the blues tradition made the connection between his Zeppelin output and his solo catalog through a pair of songs released nearly forty-five yeapartpapart

Forbes

Veasna Meth, 30, spent the last five years apart from family members in Sacramento, including wife Sandy Ho and their children — son Jorden, 12, and 1-year-old Lily.

Los Angeles Times

Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) studies were conducted in three hospital wards built five-years apart.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing events that occur repeatedly, use "five years apart" to clearly indicate the interval between each occurrence. For example, "The conferences were held five years apart, allowing for significant developments in the field to be presented."

Common error

Avoid using "five years apart" when you mean "for five years". "Five years apart" indicates an interval or difference, while "for five years" indicates a duration of time. For instance, "They lived in different cities for five years" is correct, not "They lived in different cities five years apart".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "five years apart" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun, indicating the interval or difference between two entities or events. This usage is supported by Ludwig AI's analysis, affirming its grammatical correctness. The examples in Ludwig demonstrate its utility in describing relationships and timelines.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

36%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "five years apart" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote a time difference or interval between two events or individuals. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s considered correct and appropriate for various contexts. Predominantly found in news and media and scientific publications, the phrase maintains a neutral register, making it versatile for diverse communication needs. Remember to use it when referring to intervals or differences, not durations, and consider alternatives like "separated by five years" for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

five years' difference

A more concise way of stating the age or time difference.

separated by five years

Focuses on the separation in time or age, rather than just the difference.

a five-year gap

Highlights the interval or space between two points in time or ages.

with a five-year age difference

Specifically emphasizes the age difference between individuals.

five years distant

Implies a separation or distance over a period of five years.

at a five-year interval

Focuses on the regular recurrence of something every five years.

five years elapsed

Emphasizes the passing of five years between two events.

five years in the interim

Highlights what occurs during the five-year period.

a five-year span

Refers to the duration or period of five years.

five years in between

Highlights the position of one event or person relative to another, with a five-year gap.

FAQs

How can I use "five years apart" in a sentence?

You can use "five years apart" to describe the age difference between people, such as "The brothers were born "five years apart"". It can also describe time intervals between events, such as "The two studies were conducted "five years apart"".

What's a simple way to rephrase "five years apart"?

A simpler way to rephrase "five years apart" is to say "five years' difference" or "separated by five years". These alternatives maintain clarity while being slightly more concise.

Is it correct to say 'five years away' instead of "five years apart"?

While "five years away" refers to a future event that will occur in five years, ""five years apart"" describes the interval or difference between two existing points in time or age. They are not interchangeable.

What are common situations to use "five years apart"?

Common situations include describing the spacing of recurring events (e.g., "The Olympics were held "five years apart" due to the pandemic"), age differences (e.g., "The sisters were "five years apart""), or the timing of studies and publications (e.g., "The surveys were administered "five years apart"").