following years

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "following years" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the years that come after a specific point in time or event. Example: "The economic growth continued in the following years, leading to increased investment and job creation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Many other countries followed this example in the following years.

Wikipedia

His game progressed over the following years.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In following years, options issuance soared.

The New York Times

Horror piled upon horror over the following years.

The Guardian

Alcatel returned to profitability in the following years.

The New York Times

It warned of high deficits in the following years.

The New York Times

Indeed, sales of American cars soared in the following years.

The New York Times

The male relatives are DNA swabbed in following years.

The Guardian

Such measures were sporadically repeated in the following years.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Phnom Penh was gradually repopulated in the following years.

Encyclopedia Britannica

China's pollution is notorious following years of rapid economic development.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "following years" to clearly indicate a period of time after a specific event or year. Ensure the context makes it clear what "following years" are being referred to.

Common error

Avoid using "following years" without a clear reference point. Always ensure the reader knows what specific time or event the "following years" are subsequent to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "following years" functions as a temporal adjunct, specifying a period of time subsequent to a particular event or point in time. Ludwig shows its widespread use across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Encyclopedias

21%

Science

28%

Less common in

Wiki

14%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "following years" is a common and grammatically sound way to refer to a period of time after a specific event or year. As Ludwig AI indicates, it enjoys widespread use across various contexts, including News & Media, Encyclopedias, Science, and Wiki. While versatile, clarity is essential; always ensure the reference point for the "following years" is clear. For variety, consider alternatives like "subsequent years" or "later years". Remember, precise language enhances effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

subsequent years

Replaces "following" with a synonym, emphasizing the chronological order.

succeeding years

Similar to "subsequent", but can imply a direct succession of events.

ensuing years

Implies that the years followed as a natural consequence of something.

the years that followed

A more descriptive alternative, emphasizing the sequence of time.

later years

A more general term, indicating years after a specific point in time, without necessarily implying direct succession.

years afterward

Emphasizes the time elapsed since a particular event.

years thereafter

A more formal version of "years afterward".

the next few years

Specifies a limited duration of time immediately following the reference point.

the coming years

Focuses on the years in the near future from a specific point in time.

the years ahead

Similar to "the coming years", but with a slightly broader perspective.

FAQs

How do I use "following years" in a sentence?

Use "following years" to refer to a period of time after a specific event or year. For example, "After the initial investment, the company saw significant growth in the following years".

What can I say instead of "following years"?

You can use alternatives like "subsequent years", "later years", or "the years that followed" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "in the following year" instead of "in the following years"?

Yes, both are grammatically correct, but they refer to different timeframes. "In the following year" refers to the single year immediately after a specific event, while "in the following years" refers to a period of multiple years after that event.

What's the difference between "the following years" and "in the following years"?

"The following years" refers to a specific period of time previously defined. "In the following years" indicates a time period after a specific event. For instance, "The following years were difficult for the country" implies a specific, known period. "In the following years, the country began to recover" indicates the period after a specific event, like a war.