for some years now

USAGE SUMMARY

"for some years now" is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English and can be used in any context.
For example: "We have been living in this neighborhood for some years now and we have really grown to love it here."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Your Questions platform, for some years now.

The Guardian

These conditions have been developing for some years now.

The New York Times - Arts

It is broken, and has been for some years now.

The New York Times - Travel

I've been trying to find her for some years now.

The Guardian - Music

It has been the case for some years now.

The Guardian - Sport

In addition, real prices have been in decline for some years now.

The Economist

For some years now, the Hungarian government has been in financial trouble.

The New York Times

For some years now, Gulf governments have struggled to build up their non-oil industries.

The Economist

"The club has been trying to establish itself in the top four for some years now".

Independent

British skiing has been in the deep freeze for some years now.

Independent

For some years now, his radio appearances have maintained the phenomenal average of twenty a week.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "for some years now" to indicate that a situation or trend has been ongoing for a non-specific but noticeable period. It adds a sense of established duration to your statement.

Common error

While grammatically correct, repeatedly using "now" in close proximity to "for some years now" can sound repetitive. Consider rephrasing to avoid unnecessary redundancy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for some years now" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate a duration of time. It specifies that an action, state, or condition has been ongoing for a period spanning multiple years. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

31%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "for some years now" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to indicate that a situation or trend has been ongoing for a noticeable period. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across various contexts, especially in news and media. While generally neutral in register, it's advisable to avoid overuse and consider more precise alternatives in highly formal writing. The phrase effectively conveys a sense of established duration, adding depth and context to statements across various domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for a number of years

Replaces "some" with "a number", suggesting a non-specific quantity of years.

for several years

Substitutes "some" with "several", implying more than two but not many years.

for a few years now

Replaces "some" with "a few", suggesting a small number of years.

in recent years

Shifts the focus to the recent past without specifying the exact duration.

over the past few years

Emphasizes the passing of time in recent years.

in the last several years

Similar to "for several years" but emphasizes the recency.

for many years now

Indicates a longer, unspecified period of time.

for quite some time now

Emphasizes the length of the duration using "quite some time".

for a considerable period now

Replaces "some years" with "a considerable period", indicating a significant amount of time.

during the preceding years

Positions the duration in the years leading up to the present.

FAQs

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

You can use "for some years now" to indicate that a situation or trend has been ongoing for a noticeable period, for example: "The company has been implementing sustainable practices "for some years now"".

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

Alternatives include "for a number of years", "for several years", or "in recent years" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "for some years now" formal or informal?

"For some years now" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal writing, you might opt for a more precise phrase like "for the past several years".

What is the difference between "for some years now" and "for many years now"?

"For some years now" indicates a non-specific but noticeable period, while "for many years now" suggests a longer, more extended duration.