in preceding years

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in preceding years" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to years that came before the current year or a specific point in time. Example: "The company's profits have steadily increased in preceding years, indicating a positive trend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

Profits fell in 2008 because they had been overstated in preceding years.

The Economist

But they note that, although the day is perhaps more welcome than in preceding years, it isn't all that different.

The Guardian - Books

The bank announced a number of actions and remedies, several of which had been put in place in preceding years.

Harvard University

In preceding years, private blogs and social platforms — LiveJournal, Blogspot, Facebook — trained people to write about their personal lives at length and in public.

The New Yorker

Deaths attributed, on the death certificate, to PMA had gone from 1, 0 and 0 in preceding years, to 20 last year.

The Guardian

It's no surprise, therefore, to find that this summer's programme is following more or less the same lines as in preceding years.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

80.1% of CM reported ¡Ý1 MLE in preceding year vs 78.6% of EM.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

76.5% of CM reported ¡Ý1 SLE in preceding year vs 71.4% of EM.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

The number of hospital admission in preceding year was also positively associated with DM.

BMC Endocrine Disorders

However, the number of hospital admission in preceding year is positively but not significantly associated with DM (Table  2).

BMC Endocrine Disorders

Deaths from PMA went from 0 or 1 in the preceding years, to 20 in 2012.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "in preceding years", ensure the context clearly establishes the reference point. For instance, "Sales increased in 2024, following steady growth in preceding years."

Common error

Avoid using "in preceding years" without a clear point of reference. For example, instead of saying "Conditions were different in preceding years", specify "Conditions were different in preceding years before the policy change in 2020."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in preceding years" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb or clause by specifying when something occurred. It indicates that an action or state took place during the years leading up to a particular point in time. This is supported by Ludwig's examples showing usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

31%

News & Media

56%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in preceding years" is a versatile adverbial phrase of time that provides temporal context by referring to the years before a specific point. Ludwig indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used in various contexts such as news, science, and academia. Its purpose is to offer a historical perspective, allowing writers to compare past events with the current state and highlight changes or trends. While the phrase has several alternatives, "in preceding years" remains a clear and direct way to reference past years. Writers should ensure the reference point is clear and avoid vagueness in their writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in prior years

Replaces "preceding" with "prior", offering a slightly more formal tone while retaining the core meaning of 'before'.

in previous years

Substitutes "preceding" with "previous", creating a near-synonymous alternative with a common usage.

in earlier years

Uses "earlier" instead of "preceding" to denote a time in the past, which is less formal but equally clear.

in past years

Employs "past" as a substitute for "preceding", providing a simpler and more direct way to express the same temporal relationship.

in former years

Replaces "preceding" with "former", suggesting a time that is definitively in the past and no longer current.

in the years before

Alters the structure to specify "the years before", providing a more explicit reference to a past timeframe.

in the years leading up to

Adds the idea of a progression towards a specific point, implying a buildup or trend over time.

during the prior years

Modifies the sentence structure to include "during", emphasizing the duration of the time period.

historically

Offers a broader reference to the past, suitable when specific years are not essential to the context.

in retrospect

Provides a reflective perspective, often used to consider past events with current knowledge.

FAQs

What's a simple way to rephrase "in preceding years"?

You can use simpler alternatives such as "in prior years", "in previous years", or "in earlier years" for a similar meaning.

How does the formality of "in preceding years" compare to its alternatives?

"In preceding years" is relatively neutral. Alternatives like "in prior years" can sound slightly more formal, while "in earlier years" is generally less formal.

When is it best to use "in preceding years" over other similar phrases?

Use "in preceding years" when you want a clear and direct way to refer to the years before a specified time, without adding extra connotations of formality or informality. It's suitable for most contexts.

Is there a difference between "in preceding years" and "in recent years"?

"In preceding years" refers to any period before a particular point in time, while "in recent years" specifically indicates the years immediately before the present.