for a third consecutive year

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'for a third consecutive year' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a situation in which something has happened the same way over the past three years, such as "John has been the top salesperson for a third consecutive year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

PAGE A9 Markets Fall for Third Year The stock markets fell in 2002 for a third consecutive year, the first time that has happened in 60 years.

The New York Times

Print-media ads will fall for a third consecutive year.

The Economist

Topping the list for a third consecutive year was the 1994 Honda Accord.

The New York Times

Sales are on track for a third consecutive year of double-digit percentage growth.

The New York Times

The salaries of civil servants will be frozen for a third consecutive year.

The New York Times

And, yes, Ferrari is threatening to win the world driver's championship for a third consecutive year.

The New York Times

The value of Portugal's furniture exports, for example, topped 1 billion euros last year, rising for a third consecutive year.

The New York Times

Having been seeded to meet Venus for a third consecutive year, she regrets that it did not come to pass.

Independent

So Macy's settled for a third consecutive year of staging its fireworks show on six barges in the Hudson River.

The New York Times

The American airline industry's profits are climbing for a third consecutive year amid a strong economy and low fuel prices.

The New York Times

Last Wednesday, Seville beat Liverpool, 3-1, in Basel, Switzerland, to win the Europa League for a third consecutive year.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "for a third consecutive year", ensure the context clearly establishes the time frame being referenced. For example, specify the start and end dates or the specific years being discussed.

Common error

Avoid using "for a third consecutive year" if the event did not occur in all three years. Ensure the sequence is unbroken to maintain accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for a third consecutive year" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the duration and continuity of an action or state. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

16%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "for a third consecutive year" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase to describe events that have occurred in an unbroken sequence for three years. Ludwig AI confirms this. It's versatile across news, academic, and formal business contexts. To ensure clarity, it's crucial to specify the referenced timeframe and avoid using the phrase if the sequence is interrupted. Alternatives include "for three years running" and "in three straight years". Remember, this phrase adds emphasis to the recurring nature of an event, highlighting its consistency. Top sources using the phrase include The New York Times and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for three years running

Emphasizes the continuous nature of the occurrence across three years.

in three straight years

Highlights the unbroken sequence of years.

three years in succession

Formal alternative, focusing on the order of occurrence.

for the past three years

Focuses on the time frame leading up to the present.

over the last three years

Similar to 'for the past three years', emphasizing the recent period.

during the previous three years

Highlights a period in the past.

for three years on end

Stresses the uninterrupted nature of the event.

three years consecutively

Adverbial phrase emphasizing the sequential nature.

for a trilogy of years

More literary and less common, using 'trilogy' to represent three.

year after year for three years

Repetitive structure emphasizing the yearly recurrence.

FAQs

How can I use "for a third consecutive year" in a sentence?

Use "for a third consecutive year" to describe an event that has happened in the same way over the last three years, such as, "Our company has achieved record profits "for a third consecutive year"."

What are some alternatives to saying "for a third consecutive year"?

You can use alternatives like "for three years running", "in three straight years", or "three years in succession depending on the context".

Is there a difference between "for a third consecutive year" and "for the last three years"?

"For a third consecutive year" implies an unbroken sequence of the same event, while "for the last three years" simply refers to a timeframe. The first emphasizes the continuation, the latter only the period. You should not use the first if there is a break in the chain.

Which is correct, "for a third consecutive year" or "for three consecutive years"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "for a third consecutive year" is used when something specific occurs in each of those years, whereas "for three consecutive years" refers to the span of the time itself. An example: "The team has won the championship "for a third consecutive year"" while "The company has been profitable "for three consecutive years"."