in any given year

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in any given year" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is usually used to say that something is the case in most years, or in the average year. For example, "In any given year, the temperature in London will reach 80°F at least a few times."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In any given year, quality can vary wildly.

The New York Times

In any given year approximately 750 000 people lose their housing through demolition.

International Encyclopedia of Housing and Home

In any given year, nearly half of all undergraduates are engaged with the Music program.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

In any given year, nearly half of all undergraduates are engaged with the MIT Music program.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

About 80% of our students receive academic year scholarships in any given year.

Yale University

The set of heterogeneous SoCs in production in any given year will be itself heterogeneous!

Columbia University

There is no set number as it depends on the applicant pool in any given year.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

In any given year, approximately 95percentt of Harvard faculty members remain.

Harvard University

At the moment mainland residents can legally move only a pittance abroad in any given year.

The Economist

So only about a third of directors can be unseated in any given year.

The New York Times

In any given year, about 6 percent of fines are never paid.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in any given year" when you want to discuss general trends or averages rather than specific events within particular years. For example, "In any given year, flu season typically peaks in January or February."

Common error

Avoid using "in any given year" when you're referring to a particular year and its specific events. Instead of saying "In any given year of 2020, the pandemic started", specify the year directly: "In 2020, the pandemic started".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in any given year" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify the timeframe within which an action or state occurs. As Ludwig AI points out, it denotes a general or average situation, as shown in the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Academia

32%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "in any given year" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to discuss typical or average occurrences on a yearly basis. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across diverse contexts such as news, academia, and science. When writing, remember to reserve this phrase for general trends rather than specific events of a particular year. While related alternatives like "annually" or "each year" exist, "in any given year" provides a nuanced way to frame information within a yearly scope.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

each year

A more straightforward and common way to express the same idea; slightly less formal.

every year

Similar to "each year" but can imply a continuous sequence without exception.

annually

Replaces the phrase with a single adverb indicating yearly occurrence; more concise.

in a typical year

Highlights what usually happens, allowing for the possibility of exceptions.

on a yearly basis

Emphasizes the regular, recurring nature of the event or statistic.

during any year

Focuses on the occurrence within a year, without necessarily implying it's every year.

in an average year

Specifies that the data represents the average across multiple years; more statistical.

per annum

A more formal and Latin-derived term; often used in financial or academic contexts.

in the course of a year

Emphasizes the time span of a year; can be used to describe processes or changes.

yearly

Simple adjective form, useful for modifying nouns; lacks the prepositional structure.

FAQs

How can I use "in any given year" in a sentence?

Use "in any given year" to describe events or trends that are typical or average over a year-long period. For example, "In any given year, the company allocates 10% of its budget to research and development".

What phrases are similar to "in any given year"?

Alternatives include "annually", "each year", or "every year". The choice depends on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

Is "in any given year" formal or informal?

"In any given year" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although alternatives like "per annum" are more strictly formal.

What is the difference between "in any given year" and "in a specific year"?

"In any given year" refers to a typical or average year, while "in a specific year" refers to a particular year and its specific events. For instance, "In any given year, the city experiences several snowstorms", versus "In 2020, the city experienced an unusually high number of snowstorms".