for years now

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for years now" is quite correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that a certain state of affairs has been true for a long time or has been ongoing for a certain amount of time. For example, "We have been using this software for years now."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Has been for years now.

The New Yorker

I've done campaigns for years now.

The New Yorker

I've been teaching for years now".

The New York Times - Arts

It's been bad for years now.

The Guardian

I have been attending this conference for years now.

Independent

For years now, I've realized it was a lie.

The New York Times

(I've used some version of it for years now).

The Guardian - Opinion

For years now it has been under attack.

The New Yorker

Congress has been threatening to have one for years now.

The New York Times

Home, for years now, has been besieged by photographers.

Independent

"The show has been running for years now.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "for years now" to emphasize the continuation of a state or action from the past into the present. It adds a sense of established duration.

Common error

Avoid using "for years now" with other phrases that already indicate a long duration. For example, "for many years now" can be redundant; choose either "for years now" or "for many years" for conciseness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for years now" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate the duration of an action or state. Ludwig indicates the phrase is grammatically sound and widely used across various sources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

8%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "for years now" is a common and grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to emphasize that a situation or action has been ongoing for a considerable period. Ludwig confirms its validity and widespread use. Predominantly found in News & Media, it serves to provide context and highlight the duration of events or conditions. While versatile, it's best to avoid redundancy by using it sparingly with other duration indicators. The phrase is suitable for neutral and professional contexts, while academic and scientific writing might sometimes call for more precise alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for a long time now

Replaces "years" with the more general "long time"

for many years

Emphasizes the duration using "many" before "years"

for several years now

Specifies "several" years, indicating more than a few

in recent years

Focuses on the recent past

over the past few years

Highlights a period spanning recent years

for the last few years

Similar to "over the past few years" but slightly more informal

since [year]

Indicates a starting point in the past that extends to the present

during the past years

Highlights a span of years

throughout the years

Implies something has happened consistently over a longer duration

in the preceding years

Specifies that the mentioned event occurred at some point in the past

FAQs

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

You can use "for years now" to describe a situation or condition that has been ongoing for a significant period. For example, "I've been working at this company "for years now"."

What are some alternatives to "for years now"?

Alternatives include "for a long time now", "for many years", or "in recent years" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "for many years now" instead of "for years now"?

While "for many years now" isn't grammatically incorrect, it can be considered slightly redundant. "For years now" is often sufficient and more concise. The choice depends on the desired emphasis.

What is the difference between "for years now" and "in recent years"?

"For years now" emphasizes the continuity from a point in the past up to the present, while ""in recent years"" focuses more on the period closer to the present. They're similar but have slightly different nuances.