in initial years

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in initial years" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the early years of a particular period, project, or experience. Example: "In the initial years of the program, we focused on building a strong foundation for future growth."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Moreover, gender homophily was high in initial years due to the very small percentage of women among the authors (4 of 22 authors in 1986 for example) and has oscillated over the years.

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

Proponents of the measure still argue for its passage because it would raise the wage more quickly than the state in initial years and add mandatory paid sick days.

Los Angeles Times

Vitamin D dose in initial years of life is shown to reduce risk of future development of disease modulated by immune protective effects [ 16].

Disease Markers

Vitamin D supplementation in initial years of life or during gestational diabetes have showed positive results, but due to inadequate controlled trials carried out, further experimentation considering range of BMI, age, Vitamin D dose, duration, and so forth is imperative to draw clear line for dose efficacy and necessity.

Disease Markers

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

In our study, to capture the proportion of each component contributing to the difference in total cost of hospitalisation in the period, each component in initial year (1993/94) was moved to actual value in 2003/04 in sequence.

BMC Health Services Research

As a new team, the "T-Wolves" unsurprisingly struggled in their initial years in the league, winning no more than 29 games in any of their first seven seasons.

Britannica

Ayatollah Yazdimad-Thei Mesbah Yazdi: The 80-year-old cleric, often referred to as Ayatollah Mesbah, is a hardline politician who supported the former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in his initial years in office.

The Guardian

In his initial years in office, Schwarzenegger pushed for a number of restrictive measures that proved unpopular, especially with organized labour.

Encyclopedia Britannica

However, stopping reimbursement of opportunistic screening might be controversial both for women and most of gynaecologists in Poland in the initial years.

BMC Cancer

The budget utilization was slow in the initial years (52 percent in 2009) but it improved in the later period (99 percent in 2010 and 100 percent in 2011).

Unicef

Structured training on box trainers in laparoscopic skills in the initial years of residency has been used and found to be effective.

Journal of Surgical Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "in initial years", ensure the context clearly defines what period is being referred to, to avoid ambiguity. For instance, specify "in the initial years of the project".

Common error

Avoid using "in initial years" when the timeframe is already implied. For example, instead of saying "In the initial years of childhood, children learn...", you could simply say "In early childhood, children learn...".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in initial years" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically used as an adverbial modifier to specify the timeframe during which an action or state occurred. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

10%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in initial years" is a grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to specify the beginning period of an event or endeavor. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. While its frequency is uncommon, it appears across various contexts including science, news media and encyclopedias. When employing this phrase, clarity is key: ensure the timeframe is well-defined. Alternative phrases such as "in the early period" or "at the start" can be used for variety. Be mindful of avoiding redundancy by not using it when the timeframe is already obvious from context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the early period

Similar to the original but uses 'period' instead of 'years', broadening the context.

during the formative years

This alternative highlights the years when something is being formed or developed.

during the early stages

This alternative focuses on the developmental aspect of the beginning, emphasizing the progression through stages.

at the start

This phrase provides a simple and direct way to refer to the beginning of a process or period.

in the beginning

Similar to 'at the start', this option highlights the very first part of something.

during the first phase

This alternative emphasizes a structured beginning with distinct phases.

in the introductory phase

Focuses on the idea of an introduction or initial presentation.

at inception

This option provides a more formal and concise way to describe the very beginning.

in the nascent phase

This phrase highlights the early and still developing stage of something.

in the dawning era

Suggests the start of a new era or period, often with a sense of optimism or potential.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "in initial years"?

You can use alternatives like "in the early period", "during the first phase", or "at the start" depending on the specific context.

How does "in initial years" differ from "in early years"?

"In initial years" and "in early years" are largely interchangeable. However, "in initial years" might subtly emphasize the very beginning, while "in early years" covers a broader range of the beginning period.

Is "in initial years" formal or informal?

"In initial years" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. The choice depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and the overall tone of your writing.

Can I use "in initial years" to describe events in the distant past?

While you can use "in initial years" for past events, it's best suited for discussing the beginning phase of a specific period or project, regardless of when it occurred. For the distant past, consider using "in early times" or "in ancient times".