for the past several years

USAGE SUMMARY

'for the past several years' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referencing an event, action, or process that has been occurring for a certain period of time leading up to the present. For example: "I have been working as a teacher for the past several years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Newsweek has been struggling for the past several years.

The New York Times

AGE: 39 years old (for the past several years).

Harvard University

For the past several years, asylum grant rates have declined.

The New Yorker

For the past several years, John lived in Monmouth Beach.

The New York Times

For the past several years, EDs have seen an unprecedented growth in patient visits.

The Case Manager

The J.C.C. Fund has contributed to the Starr Library for the past several years.

Columbia University

For the past several years, we've been living in a gilded age of handbags.

The New Yorker

But for the past several years, the congresos have taken a dark tone.

The New York Times

Mr. Hassan had been suffering from multiple organ disorders for the past several years.

The New York Times

The president has had those assets for the past several years, without moving Republicans.

The New York Times

For the past several years, Mr. Mladic has been thought to be living in neighboring Serbia.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "for the past several years" to describe trends, ongoing situations, or repeated actions that began in the past and continue to the present.

Common error

Ensure the timeframe referenced by "for the past several years" is clear in your writing. If precision is needed, specify the exact number of years or use a more precise term like "since [year]"

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for the past several years" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by specifying a period of time leading up to the present. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and used to describe ongoing or repeated actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

18%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "for the past several years" is a versatile and commonly used prepositional phrase that pinpoints the duration of an event or action from a point in the past up to the present. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It appears most frequently in news and media, but also maintains a strong presence in academic and scientific writing, as evidenced by the numerous examples provided by Ludwig. While generally neutral in register, its impact can be strengthened by precise and contextual application. Remember to consider alternatives like "over the past few years" or "in recent years" for variety. Always be aware that ambiguous use may create misunderstanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

over the past few years

Replaces 'several' with 'few', slightly altering the emphasis on the length of time.

during the last several years

Substitutes 'for' with 'during', offering a slightly different grammatical structure while maintaining the same meaning.

for the last few years

Uses 'few' instead of 'several', subtly changing the perceived duration.

in recent years

A more concise way of expressing the same idea, focusing on the recency of the period.

over the last number of years

Adds a degree of generality by using 'number' instead of a specific quantifier.

throughout the last few years

Focuses on the continuity of events over the specified period.

for the preceding several years

Replaces 'past' with 'preceding', creating a more formal tone but retaining the meaning.

in the preceding years

Uses 'preceding' to denote the time before the present, maintaining a formal tone.

during the past years

Simplifies the phrase by omitting 'several', making it slightly less specific.

for approximately the last few years

Adds 'approximately' to indicate that the time frame is an estimation.

FAQs

How can I use "for the past several years" in a sentence?

You can use "for the past several years" to describe actions, events, or trends that have been ongoing since several years ago and continue to the present. For example, "The company's profits have been steadily increasing "for the past several years"".

What are some alternatives to "for the past several years"?

Alternatives include phrases like "over the past few years", "in recent years", or "during the last several years", which all convey a similar meaning of a period leading up to the present.

Is it more accurate to say "for the past few years" or "for the past several years"?

Both "for the past few years" and "for the past several years" are acceptable, but they imply slightly different durations. "Few" generally means a small number (3-5), while "several" implies more than few, but still not a large number (around 7-9). Choose the word that best represents the actual timeframe.

Can I use "for the past several years" to describe events that have now stopped?

While "for the past several years" typically implies ongoing activity, it can be used if the impact or consequences of those past events are still relevant in the present. However, it's clearer to use past tense and specify the timeframe if the events have definitively concluded. For example: "The factory operated "for the last decade", but closed last year".