for some five years

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for some five years" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a duration of approximately five years, often in a more formal or literary context. Example: "He had been living in the city for some five years before he decided to move back to his hometown."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

At age 14 he joined the army, and he served for some five years.

Encyclopedia Britannica

For some five years in the mid-18th century, an artist from Burgundy struggled unnoticed in Paris.

The New York Times

The man on trial is track coach Trevor Graham, who faces 15 years in prison on three counts of making false statements to federal agents investigating the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative, or Balco — an investigation that has now drawn on for some five years.

The New York Times

"Ana wa Laila," which he tinkered with for some five years until he was satisfied, is a song about a man who cannot extinguish his passion for a woman who does not love him in return because he is not rich.

The New York Times - Arts

In Rome he stayed for some five years and converted to Plotinus' version of Platonism.

SEP

He was a dues-paying member of Norway's populist right-wing Progress party for some five years until 2004.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Prior to 2006 growth in the labour force was even higher, up to about 10percentnt for some five year periods in the 1990s and 1980s.

BMC Health Services Research

Rhaphidograptus toernquisti managed to persist, unchanged, for some five million years.

The New Yorker

Gish Amit has been involved in non-formal education for some twenty years.

Columbia University

41-year-old Gosney has only been playing poker for some three years.

The Guardian - Sport

For some two years after the 9/11 attacks, America quite understandably went ape.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing dialogue, "for some five years" can characterize a speaker as precise, educated, or old-fashioned.

Common error

Avoid using "for some five years" in informal conversations or casual writing, as it may sound overly formal or stilted. Opt for simpler alternatives like "about five years" or "around five years" in those situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for some five years" functions as an adverbial phrase of duration, modifying a verb or clause by specifying the length of time something occurs or exists. It emphasizes the approximate length of time, adding a degree of formality to the expression, as Ludwig AI points out.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "for some five years" is a grammatically correct adverbial phrase of duration. Ludwig AI's assessment confirms its usability in written English, particularly in contexts where a touch of formality or literary style is desired. While the phrase is relatively uncommon compared to simpler alternatives like "about five years", its presence in reputable news sources, academic texts, and encyclopedias validates its usage. When considering authoritative sources, The New York Times, The New Yorker, and BBC are good example of proper usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Approximately five years

Replaces "for some" with a more direct term, maintaining a similar level of precision.

About five years

Offers a slightly less formal alternative, suitable for more casual contexts.

Roughly five years

Similar in tone to "about", indicating an estimated duration.

Around five years

Another informal option indicating an approximate duration.

For a period of five years

A more formal and explicit way to express the same duration.

Five or so years

Indicates a slight uncertainty about the exact duration.

Five-year period

Focuses on the duration as a specific timeframe.

For nearly half a decade

Uses a different unit of time to express the duration.

Almost five years

Indicates that the duration is slightly less than five years.

Close to five years

Similar to "almost", suggesting a duration nearing five years.

FAQs

How can I use "for some five years" in a sentence?

You can use "for some five years" to describe a duration of approximately five years, often in a more formal or literary context. Example: "He had been living in the city for "for some five years" before he decided to move back to his hometown."

What can I say instead of "for some five years"?

You can use alternatives like "approximately five years", "about five years", or "roughly five years" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to say "for some five years" or "for about five years"?

"For some five years" has a more formal tone. If you want to sound less formal, use "for about five years".

What is the difference between "for some five years" and "in five years"?

"For some five years" refers to a period that has already passed or is currently ongoing. "In five years" refers to a point in the future.