for these years

USAGE SUMMARY

"for these years" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to a period of time in the past. For example, "I have been learning Spanish for these past three years."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Temperature, humidity and precipitation data were collected for these years.

Veterinary Parasitology

All corporation tax returns have been properly filed for these years with HMRC".

The Guardian

Based upon this new outlook, a reconstruction of the monthly solar activity for these years is proposed.

Advances in Space Research

Issues for these years are held in hardcopy by the British Library and other libraries of deposit.

The Guardian

Student cognitive development is critical and formational in the K-12 years, making the dearth of data on learning outcomes for these years additionally troubling.

Yale University

The fisheries in these regions might also take additional hits during El-Nino years, so additional protection might be required for these years.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

She will be 23 soon and all she has to show for these years, these months, is a series of truncated false starts.

The Guardian - Books

We pooled data for these years from the Western Australian sentinel medical practice surveillance system for influenza to estimate vaccine effectiveness (VE) by influenza virus type and subtype.

Vaccine

The government's actions have left "the impression that Padilla may have been held for these years, even if justifiably, by mistake," the court wrote.

The Washington Post

The translator Robert Fagles greeted Mr. Mandelbaum's work as "exactly what we have waited for these years, a Dante with clarity, eloquence, terror and profoundly moving depths".

The New York Times - Arts

If you listen to the whole speech, it is what he says at the end that seems so apt for these years of diminished expectations.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, consider specifying the years you're referring to immediately before using "for these years". This makes your writing more precise and easier to follow. E.g. "Between 2000 and 2010. For those years sales skyrocketed."

Common error

Ensure the years you are referencing are clear to the reader. Avoid using "for these years" without explicitly stating or implying which years you're referring to, as this can lead to confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for these years" functions as a prepositional phrase specifying a duration or period of time. It modifies a verb or noun, providing context about when something occurred or was valid. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase follows standard grammar rules.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

42%

Academia

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "for these years" is a grammatically sound and versatile prepositional phrase used to indicate a specific period of time. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and broad applicability. It is most commonly found in scientific and news contexts, serving to provide temporal clarity and reference previously mentioned years. When using this phrase, ensure that the years being referenced are clear to avoid ambiguity. Consider alternative phrases like "during this period" or "over these years" for slight variations in meaning. With a high frequency and neutral register, "for these years" is a reliable choice for various writing needs.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

during this period

Focuses on the span of time, rather than the specific years.

over these years

Highlights a process or change that occurs throughout the years.

throughout this time

Emphasizes the continuous nature of the period.

in those years

Refers to a specific set of years already mentioned or understood.

through the years

Indicates a longer, less defined period, with a sense of progression.

in the course of these years

Highlights events happening sequentially, indicating a sense of a specific progression.

across these years

Focuses on distribution or comparisons over the years

during those times

Highlights a specific period marked by unique context

in the period under review

Refers to an official or formal investigation

within this timeframe

Emphasizes a more specific or limited duration

FAQs

How can I use "for these years" in a sentence?

Use "for these years" to refer back to a specific period you've already mentioned. For example, "We studied the data from 2018 to 2022. For these years, the trend was consistently upward".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "for these years"?

Consider using phrases like "during this period", "over these years", or "throughout this time", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it okay to start a sentence with "for these years"?

While grammatically correct, starting a sentence with "for these years" can sometimes sound awkward. It's often better to integrate it into the sentence more smoothly or use an alternative construction.

How do I ensure clarity when using "for these years"?

Always make sure the context makes it absolutely clear which years you're referencing. Avoid ambiguity by restating the specific years if needed, or by using a more explicit phrase like "during the years 2010-2015".