for three consecutive months

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for three consecutive months" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate something happened or will happen over a period of three months. For example, "My savings account was frozen for three consecutive months because of a mistake in paperwork."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The index had risen for three consecutive months since then.

The New York Times

But the private sector has shed jobs for three consecutive months.

The New York Times

After rising for three consecutive months, production dropped by 0.4% in September.

The Economist

LIPPER'S "performance range" simply takes a fund's five-year track record and calculates the spread between its best performance for three consecutive months and its worst performance for three consecutive months.

The New York Times

Still, an index tracked by JPMorgan Chase that gauges global production has climbed for three consecutive months.

The New York Times

The federation defines delinquency as failing to make payments on debt of 300,000 won ($250) for three consecutive months.

The New York Times

The last time the economy lost jobs for three consecutive months was in 1991, a recession year.

The New York Times

Durable goods orders have increased for three consecutive months now, and they rose 3.9 percent in January.

The New York Times

The pace of new home construction rose by 5% in May after falling for three consecutive months.

The Economist

Manufacturing has grown for three consecutive months, indicating that factories could help the economy after slumping through most of 2012.

The New York Times

Mr Feldstein wants a tax cut that would automatically kick in if employment fell for three consecutive months.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "for three consecutive months" to clearly define a specific timeframe when precision about the continuity of the period is important. For example, when describing economic trends or medical treatments, this phrase can help avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "for three consecutive months" when a general timeframe is sufficient. If the continuity isn't critical, phrases like "over three months" or "in a three-month period" might be more appropriate, preventing unnecessary emphasis on consecutiveness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for three consecutive months" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. It specifies the duration of an action or state, indicating that it occurred continuously over a three-month period. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "for three consecutive months" is a common and grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to specify a continuous duration of three months. As evidenced by Ludwig AI, its usage spans across diverse contexts, including news, science, and business, with a neutral to formal tone. To maintain clarity, use it when emphasizing the uninterrupted nature of the timeframe is important; otherwise, simpler alternatives may suffice. The frequency of its occurrence underscores its relevance in both written and spoken English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for three months in a row

Provides an informal and easily understandable alternative.

for three months straight

A more concise and casual way of saying "for three consecutive months".

during three straight months

Replaces "consecutive" with "straight" for a less formal tone.

over a three-month period

Changes the structure to emphasize the duration as a specific period.

in three successive months

Substitutes "consecutive" with "successive", offering a more formal alternative.

for a period of three months running

Emphasizes the continuous nature of the three-month duration.

spanning three continuous months

Highlights the uninterrupted nature of the three-month timeframe.

throughout three sequential months

Uses "sequential" to highlight the ordered progression of the months.

during a three-month streak

Uses "streak" to imply a series of successes or occurrences over three months.

over a three-month stretch

Emphasizes the extended duration of the three-month period.

FAQs

How can I use "for three consecutive months" in a sentence?

You can use "for three consecutive months" to describe events that occur regularly or continuously over a three-month period. For example, "The company has reported increased profits "for three consecutive months"."

What phrases are similar to "for three consecutive months"?

Similar phrases include "over a three-month period", "during three straight months", or "in three successive months". The choice depends on the context and desired level of formality. You may find that "over a three-month period" is suitable in formal writing while "during three straight months" suits a more informal context.

Is it necessary to specify "consecutive" when describing months?

Specifying "consecutive" is important when you need to emphasize that the months follow each other without interruption. If the order of the months is not important, you can simply say "over three months".

What's the difference between "for three consecutive months" and "in the last three months"?

"For three consecutive months" emphasizes a continuous period, whereas "in the last three months" refers to a timeframe within the most recent three months, not necessarily consecutive. Consider this, "The project saw improvements "for three consecutive months"," versus, "The project saw improvements "in the last three months"," to appreciate the nuanced difference.