in different years

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in different years" is correct English, and it is quite commonly used.
An example sentence could be: "The annual festival is held in different years in different cities across the country."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In the authors also note that in different years, the media coverage about environment differs.

International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility

In different years, you need different schedules.

The New York Times - Sports

"It's like ranking horses in different years.

The New York Times - Sports

You cannot do this even in different years.

Stanford University

Other country trips are offered in different years.

Cornell University

The seasonal variation of SqX is similar in different years.

Advances in Space Research

"NV" means "non-vintage," or grapes harvested in different years.

The New York Times - Style

In other regions, other broods emerge in different years.

The New York Times - Science

Table 1 Prevalence of HPV in different years.

Nature

Both his parents had come in through Galveston, in different years.

The New York Times

She told different police departments that she had met Cosby in different years.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in different years" to clearly indicate that events or data points occur across non-identical years, especially when comparing trends or changes over time. This ensures clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "in different years" when you actually mean "in consecutive years" or "annually". The phrase "in different years" emphasizes a distinction between the years, not necessarily a sequential order.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in different years" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by providing information about when an action or event occurred. It specifies that the action took place across various, non-identical years. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is used correctly and frequently.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

29%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in different years" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate that something occurs across various, non-identical years. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is frequently used in academic, scientific, and news contexts to provide temporal context and facilitate comparisons over time. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the intended meaning and that consecutive occurrences are not implied when distinct years are meant. Alternatives such as "in various years" or "over the years" can be used depending on the nuance you want to convey. With an expert rating of 4.6/5, it proves its solid and versatile usage among different sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in various years

Replaces "different" with "various", suggesting a range of years without specifying distinction.

in separate years

Emphasizes the distinctness and non-overlapping nature of the years.

in subsequent years

Focuses on the years that follow a specific point in time.

over the years

Highlights a progression or accumulation of changes across a span of years.

across the years

Similar to "over the years", but can imply a more distributed or widespread pattern.

during those years

Refers to a specific, previously mentioned set of years.

in alternating years

Specifies a pattern of years that occur in alternation.

in the intervening years

Emphasizes the years that come between two specific points in time.

year after year

Highlights the repetition of an event or trend in consecutive years.

from year to year

Indicates a comparison or change observed between individual years.

FAQs

How can I use "in different years" in a sentence?

You can use "in different years" to show that something varies or occurs across non-identical years. For example: "The project was funded "in different years", depending on the availability of resources."

What are some alternatives to "in different years"?

Alternatives include "in various years", "in separate years", or "over the years", depending on the specific context and emphasis you want to convey.

Is it better to say "in different years" or "during different years"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct. "In different years" is more common and concise. "During different years" can be used for emphasis or when specifying that something occurred throughout those years.

What is the difference between "in different years" and "annually"?

"In different years" indicates that something happened in various non-identical years, whereas "annually" means it happened every year. They are not interchangeable; "annually" implies a continuous, unbroken sequence.