from several years

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "from several years" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a duration of time that spans multiple years, often in contexts discussing experience, changes, or developments over that period. Example: "The research findings have been evolving from several years of study and analysis."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

For this score, Burnett used music from several years of The Etude and sheet music.

Columbia University

When an ALT site contained observations from several years, available values were averaged.

Nature

In 2010 the institution was just emerging from several years of turmoil.

The New York Times - Arts

By recovering its No. 1 title, Toyota cements a strong comeback from several years of tumbles.

The New York Times

Let's not forget the ridiculously anachronistic Robin Hood miniseries from several years ago either.

Independent

It rapidly burned through brush and trees parched from several years of drought.

Independent

It stems from several years of excessively damp weather and animal predators.

The New York Times

This allows researchers to combine information from several years to get a deeper insight into the population's spatial requirements.

Biological Conservation

PV professionals from several countries have been working from several years to improve the design for building application.

Renewable Energy Focus

In another picture from several years later, Tamerlan wore a beard and a scowl; Katherine wore a headscarf.

The Guardian

The results included a £7.65 billion charge for good will, which was carried over from several years of acquisitions.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When indicating a period of time, clarify whether the 'several years' are consecutive or non-consecutive to avoid ambiguity. E.g. "The data was collected from several years of research" vs. "The data was collected over several years, not necessarily consecutive."

Common error

Avoid using "from several years" with a verb tense that implies a specific, completed action in the present. Instead of "I know him from several years", use "I have known him for several years" or "I knew him several years ago."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "from several years" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a noun or verb, indicating a time span or origin. Ludwig's examples show its use in specifying the duration of studies, the age of documents, or the length of an activity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "from several years" is a common and grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to indicate a time span or origin point in the past. According to Ludwig, it is most frequently found in News & Media, Science and Academic contexts. It serves to specify the duration or history of an event or object. While generally neutral in tone, it should be used with correct verb tenses to avoid errors. When more precision is needed, alternatives such as "over several years" or "spanning multiple years" can be used. The Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's validity and provides numerous real-world examples to illustrate its diverse applications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

spanning multiple years

Focuses on the duration covering several years.

over a number of years

Emphasizes an unspecified quantity of years.

across several years

Highlights distribution or coverage throughout a period of years.

in the course of several years

Stresses events happening during the time period.

during a period of years

More generic way to point the attention to multiple years period.

for a few years

Less precise, indicating a small number of years.

throughout the years

Highlights changes and processes happening in different moments through the years.

for several annum

Uses a more formal term (annum) for years.

over the course of years

Emphasizes a process or progression occurring over years.

through multiple years

Indicates existence across a range of years.

FAQs

How can I use "from several years" in a sentence?

The phrase "from several years" is typically used to describe a duration or origin point in the past. For example, "The study draws data from several years of research" or "He had commendation letters from several years earlier."

What's a good alternative to "from several years"?

Alternatives include "over several years", "spanning multiple years", or "across several years", depending on the specific context and meaning you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "since several years" instead of "from several years"?

No, "since several years" is not grammatically correct. Use "for several years" or "from several years ago" instead. For example, "I have worked here for several years" or "I have known him since 2018."

What is the difference between "from several years ago" and "from several years"?

"From several years ago" specifies a point in the past, while "from several years" typically describes something that has been happening or existing across a span of years. For example, "The photo is from several years ago," versus "The data comes from several years of observation."