in the face of years

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in the face of years" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express resilience or determination despite the passage of time or challenges faced over the years. Example: "In the face of years of hardship, she remained hopeful and continued to pursue her dreams."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Prusiner attributes his tenacity in the face of years of doubt to the nature of the problem itself.

The Guardian

The author made a case for the Nation of Islam leader's resilience in the face of years of monitoring by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The New York Times

Without being didactic, Chang underscores the fact that Charles's failure is part of "a great populist uprising of failure in the face of years of shared success".

The Guardian - Books

Plucking Sokvannara Sar, a happy teenager, from his home in Cambodia and installing him in the School of American Ballet in New York, Ms. Bass lauds his dedication in the face of years of alienation and exhaustion.

The New York Times

This letter not only violated Justice rules on commenting on ongoing investigations but also flew in the face of years of precedent about how to handle sensitive cases as Election Day nears.

The Washington Post

The decision seems to fly in the face of years of dire warnings about the risks of online voting issued by cybersecurity researchers and advocacy groups focused on election integrity.

MIT Technology Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

They conclude that the effects of topoclimatic gradients on the distribution and abundance of organisms can be profound in the Bay Area grasslands, where fine-scale topography provides resilience in the face of year-to-year climate variation, influencing the emergence time of Bay Checkerspot butterflies in relation to the phenology of its host plants (Weiss and Weiss 1998; Hellman et al. 2004).

Ecological Processes

This will be a real test of whether the last few good years have made OPEC any more disciplined in the face of bad years.

The New Yorker

In the face of 50 years of truth and action, big tobacco has engaged in 50 years of denial and resistance.

The Guardian - Opinion

"He's flying in the face of 130 years of court decisions, including numerous Supreme Court decisions," he said.

The New York Times

What he, or his successor, has to do flies in the face of 30 years of centre-right policy.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in the face of years" to highlight resilience or persistence when challenges are sustained over a considerable period. For example, "The community thrived in the face of years of economic hardship."

Common error

Avoid using "in the face of years" when referring to short-term challenges. The phrase implies a prolonged period of difficulty, so it's inappropriate for describing events lasting only a few months or less.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in the face of years" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase, often introducing an adverbial clause that modifies a verb. It describes the circumstances under which an action occurs, emphasizing the endurance or persistence despite prolonged challenges. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and utility.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

17%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "in the face of years" is a prepositional phrase used to emphasize enduring resilience and persistence despite long-term challenges. While grammatically correct, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, its frequency is relatively rare. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts, academic writing, and scientific reports, where the focus is on highlighting the difficulty and prolonged nature of a situation. When writing, ensure that "in the face of years" is used to describe situations that genuinely span a considerable period and involve significant challenges.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

despite many years

Replaces "in the face of" with "despite", emphasizing concession rather than confrontation.

in spite of years of

Similar to "despite years of", but may convey a stronger sense of defiance.

through years of

Focuses on the duration of time as a period of experience.

after years of

Highlights the outcome or consequence following a prolonged period.

notwithstanding years of

A more formal way of saying "despite years of", adding emphasis to the contrast.

in the course of years

Highlights the natural progression or unfolding of events over time.

over a span of years

Emphasizes the duration and extent of the period.

with the passage of years

Focuses on the continuous progression and changes brought about by time.

throughout the years

Implies a continuous presence or action during the specified period.

during those years

Refers to a specific period previously mentioned.

FAQs

How can I use "in the face of years" in a sentence?

Use "in the face of years" to emphasize enduring resilience or persistent effort despite long-term challenges. For example, "In the face of years of adversity, she never lost hope".

What are some alternatives to "in the face of years"?

You can use alternatives like "despite many years", "through years of", or "in spite of years of" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "in the face of years"?

It is appropriate to use "in the face of years" when you want to emphasize the difficulty of a situation over a long period, and highlight the subject's resilience or resistance to those difficulties. It is not a suitable replacement for something that happens quickly or easily.

What is the difference between "in the face of years" and "over the years"?

"In the face of years" highlights challenges faced over a long period, while "over the years" simply indicates a period of time without necessarily implying hardship. The first describes resistance to a difficulty, and the second is a temporal indicator without additional implicit meaning.