has been a rocky year

USAGE SUMMARY

“has been a rocky year” is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe a year that has been difficult, full of challenges, or unstable. Example: "2020 has been a rocky year for many people due to the global pandemic and its effects on daily life."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Nevertheless, it has been a rocky year.

The Guardian - Film

If 2012 has been a rocky year for the national team, it has been a stellar one for Cameron.

The New York Times

Although he emerged victorious today, it has been a rocky year and a half for Mr. Armey.

The New York Times

It has been a rocky year for Disney, a company that for many years maintained the top market share among Hollywood movie studios.

The New York Times

Across the nation, it has been a rocky year for public university leaders: Richard W. Lariviere, the president of the University of Oregon, was fired in November, despite strong faculty support, after pushing aggressively for more independence from the state.

The New York Times

The net result has been a rocky year for the company, which saw one of its biggest jumps happening as a result of potential acquisition talks.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

For AMD, it has been a rocky road the past few years for the server division server unit share currently hovers around 1%.

Forbes

The year has been a rocky one, with plenty of ups and downs — largely in line with the company's earnings reports, where it has recorded mixed results.

TechCrunch

The year in general has been a rocky one, though it's been one of the better-performing stocks of the year (it's up 42%).

TechCrunch

But it has been a rocky journey.

The Guardian

It has been a rocky path.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "has been a rocky year", ensure that the context clearly illustrates the specific challenges or difficulties that made the year "rocky". Be specific and provide examples to support your statement.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "has been a rocky year" as a vague generalization. Instead, provide specific examples of events, challenges, or issues that made the year difficult or unstable. This adds credibility and depth to your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been a rocky year" functions as a descriptive statement, characterizing a specific period (a year) as challenging or unstable. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, and the examples demonstrate its application across various contexts to convey a sense of difficulty and adversity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has been a rocky year" is used to describe a period marked by challenges and instability. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically sound and suitable for use. While classified as "Uncommon" in terms of frequency, it appears across diverse contexts, predominantly in news and media, and formal communications. Several alternative phrases, like "has been a difficult year" or "has been a challenging year", offer similar meanings, adjusting the nuance to emphasize specific aspects of difficulty. When using this phrase, it is crucial to provide specific examples or details to ground the description and enhance clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been a difficult year

Replaces "rocky" with "difficult", emphasizing the challenges faced.

has been a challenging year

Substitutes "rocky" with "challenging", highlighting the demanding nature of the year.

has been a tough year

Uses "tough" instead of "rocky", suggesting a year filled with hardships.

has been a turbulent year

Replaces "rocky" with "turbulent", focusing on the instability and unrest of the year.

has been a trying year

Employs "trying" instead of "rocky", highlighting the stress and strain experienced.

has been a troublesome year

Utilizes "troublesome" in place of "rocky", emphasizing the problems and difficulties encountered.

has been a testing year

Uses "testing" instead of "rocky", focusing on how the year has challenged resilience and resolve.

has been a bumpy year

Replaces "rocky" with "bumpy", maintaining the metaphor of an uneven or difficult journey.

has been a year of hardship

Shifts the structure to emphasize the presence of hardship throughout the year.

has been an eventful year

Uses "eventful" instead of "rocky", highlighting the many happenings that has the year.

FAQs

What does it mean to say that it "has been a rocky year"?

Saying that it "has been a rocky year" means that the year has been difficult and full of challenges, setbacks, or instability.

What can I say instead of "has been a rocky year"?

You can use alternatives like "has been a difficult year", "has been a challenging year", or "has been a tough year" depending on the context.

How to use "has been a rocky year" in a sentence?

You can use "has been a rocky year" to describe a period marked by significant challenges. For example, "The company faced numerous setbacks, and this has been a rocky year for our finances."

Is it grammatically correct to say "has been a rocky year"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The phrase follows standard English grammar rules and is widely used in both formal and informal contexts.