for three years in a row

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for three years in a row" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe something that has been repeated three times in succession, such as an event. For example: "The team has won the championship for three years in a row."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The company has lost money for three years in a row.

The Economist

ABC says its countdown program's ratings have risen for three years in a row.

The New York Times

The total population has now been shrinking for three years in a row.

The Economist

VA workers have processed 1 million claims a year for three years in a row.

The Washington Post

He said he rebuffed overtures from the College de France for three years in a row.

The New York Times - Arts

To win for three years in a row is not a joke".

The New York Times - Sports

(She's been number one on Forbes Most Powerful Womenn list for three years in a row).

The New Yorker

For three years in a row now, the Brits have broken the £1bn barrier in takings at the box-office.

Independent

That means many fares will rise by as much as eleven per cent - for three years in a row.

Independent

PCCW's once soaring shares have been the dogs of the Hang Seng Index for three years in a row.

The Economist

Barcelona, the champion of the Spanish league for three years in a row, was favored by oddsmakers and onlookers.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "for three years in a row" to clearly indicate that an event has occurred consecutively over a three-year period. This avoids ambiguity compared to simply saying "for three years".

Common error

Don't use "for three years in a row" when the events are not consecutive. For example, if someone achieved something in 2010, 2012, and 2014, it's incorrect to say they achieved it "for three years in a row" because there was a gap in 2011 and 2013.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for three years in a row" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the duration and consecutive nature of an action or state. As Ludwig AI highlights, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "for three years in a row" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase that indicates an action or event has occurred consecutively for three years. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It's commonly found in news, business, and academic contexts, serving to emphasize continuity and consistency. Alternative phrases include "three consecutive years" and "three years running". When using this phrase, ensure the events are truly consecutive to avoid misrepresentation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

three consecutive years

Replaces the preposition "in a row" with the adjective "consecutive".

three years running

Uses "running" as an adjective to indicate a continuous sequence.

for the past three years

Focuses on the time period leading up to the present.

in three successive years

Employs "successive" to denote the sequential nature of the years.

over a three-year period

Highlights the duration of the event rather than the consecutive nature.

during three straight years

Uses "straight" to emphasize the unbroken sequence of years.

for three years on end

Emphasizes the continuous nature of the three-year period.

three years in succession

Uses the more formal term "succession" instead of "row".

across three years

Focuses on the span of time covering three years.

annually for three years

Highlights that the event happened every year over a three-year period.

FAQs

What does "for three years in a row" mean?

The phrase "for three years in a row" indicates that something has happened consecutively, or without interruption, for a period of three years.

Is it grammatically correct to say "for three years in a row"?

Yes, "for three years in a row" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written and spoken English.

What can I say instead of "for three years in a row"?

You can use alternatives like "three consecutive years", "three years running", or "for the past three years" depending on the context.

How do I use "for three years in a row" in a sentence?

You can use "for three years in a row" to describe a recurring event. For example, "The company has increased its profits "for three years in a row"".