for four years since

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for four years since" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used to indicate a duration of time that has continued from a specific point in the past up to the present, but it requires a clearer structure to be grammatically correct. Example: "I have been living in this city for four years since I moved here in 2019."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

He'd been there for four years–since before it went public and enjoyed the experience.

Forbes

He had been working on this bridge for four years, since the project began.

The New Yorker

Brown, of Rains High School in Emory, Tex., has been vaulting for four years, since the seventh grade, drawn to it because "it looked dangerous".

The New York Times - Sports

FOR four years, since shortly before their marriage, Kristina Frantz and Pierre Alexandre lived in a spacious three-bedroom duplex in a two-family house in Carroll Gardens.

The New York Times

We've been away for four years since Transference because we needed a break, and we needed a break from each other, personally.

The Guardian - Music

I work for EY, a professional services firm I've been with for four years, since joining as a graduate in 2011.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

They have been collaborating for nineteen years, since Rodgers, then sixteen, met Hart who was twenty-three.

The New Yorker

"I'd known him for three years, since I was fifteen.

The New Yorker

Mack and Dan have been friends for twenty years, since college.

The New Yorker

"He's been up and down for two years since this divorce started," Dr. Mantia said.

The New York Times

He had been unemployed for seven years, since his international employer in Kabul closed its business.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity, rephrase "for four years since" to "for the past four years" or "in the four years since" to ensure grammatical correctness and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "for four years since" if you intend to indicate a duration leading up to the present. Instead, use "for the past four years" to clearly convey the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for four years since" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause. However, as Ludwig AI points out, its grammatical correctness is questionable. It attempts to specify a duration that begins at a point in the past and extends to the present or another point in time.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

13%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "for four years since" attempts to express a duration of time that has elapsed since a specific event. However, Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. Despite its questionable grammar, the phrase appears with common frequency, mainly in news and media contexts. To ensure clarity and grammatical correctness, it's advisable to use alternatives such as "for the past four years" or "in the four years since", which clearly convey the intended meaning and avoid ambiguity. By rephrasing, you can maintain precision and avoid potential misinterpretations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for the past four years

Emphasizes the continuous duration leading up to the present.

in the four years since

Reorders the phrase to emphasize the period after a specific event.

for a period of four years after

Formal and explicit about the duration following a starting point.

during the four years following

Highlights the period of time subsequent to an event.

in the subsequent four years

Indicates a four-year period immediately after a noted event.

four years onward from

Describes a duration extending from a specific starting point.

four years from that point

Indicates a period measured from a defined moment.

over the next four years after

Specifies that the duration occurs in the immediate future after a given event.

for the four years thereafter

Refers to a four-year period following a certain event or time.

since four years ago

Uses a temporal reference to indicate the starting point of a duration.

FAQs

What's a grammatically correct way to say "for four years since"?

Instead of "for four years since", you can use phrases like "for the past four years" or "in the four years since" for better clarity.

Is "for four years since" considered grammatically correct?

The phrase "for four years since" is not considered grammatically correct in standard written English. It's better to use alternatives such as "for the last four years" or "since four years ago".

How does the meaning change if I use "for the past four years" instead of "for four years since"?

Using "for the past four years" clarifies that the duration extends up to the present moment, whereas "for four years since" is grammatically awkward and less clear. The correct phrasing removes any ambiguity about the timeframe.

When is it appropriate to use "in the four years since"?

Use "in the four years since" when you want to emphasize the period after a specific event. For example, "In the four years since the company went public, its revenue has tripled."