in the immediately preceding years

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in the immediately preceding years" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the years directly before a specific point in time, often in a formal or academic context. Example: "The economic trends in the immediately preceding years have significantly influenced our current market strategies."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"The housing crunch and its impact on employment in construction, plus the demise of sub-prime lending, gave immigrants fewer opportunities for living and working in the suburbs than in the immediately preceding years," Dr. Frey said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Three other samples (323, 333 and 412) had viruses with their deduced amino acid sequences identical to isolates found in the same year or in the immediately preceding year in other countries.

BMC Infectious Diseases

All it means is that during that year the peoples of the world were getting about as much food as they had been accustomed to getting in recent years, and, on the average, a little more than they had had in the immediately preceding year, indeed in most areas more than in any year since 1940.

FAO

The questions on the comprehensive exams will be on topics taught in the first year microeconomic and macroeconomic courses of the immediately preceding year.

Yale University

If your bonus and regular wages are specified separately and income taxes were withheld from your regular wages in the current or immediately preceding year, there are two methods used to calculate taxes withheld on a bonus, the percentage method and the aggregate method.

Huffington Post

Conversely, it was also possible for a PO to decline an allocation in one year if its performance in the immediately preceding three years would otherwise have meant stricter quota controls for its members than they would have faced fishing against national monthly limits.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

On August 18 , 1972 Diaz filed a class action complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida alleging that his application for enrollment had been denied on the ground that he was not a citizen and had neither been admitted for permanent residence nor resided in the United States for the immediately preceding five years.

Cornell University

And second, it bars him from such activities in relation to a matter involving a specific party or parties, even though he has not participated in the matter personally and substantially, if it is pending in his department or agency and he has served therein more than 60 days in the immediately preceding period of a year.

Cornell University

Levels of healthcare utilization and costs are greater in the year following initiation of therapy than in the immediately preceding one.

BMC Psychiatry

The California Elections Code forbids ballot position to an independent candidate for elective public office if he voted in the immediately preceding primary, § 6830(c) (Supp.1974), 1 or if he had a registered affiliation with a qualified political party at any time within one year prior to the immediately preceding primary election.

Cornell University

The RMD for any given year is the total account balance in the IRA, or IRAs, as of the end of the immediately preceding calendar year divided by a distribution period.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "in the immediately preceding years", ensure the context clearly establishes the specific timeframe to which you are referring to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "in the immediately preceding years" in casual conversation or informal writing. Opt for simpler alternatives like "in the years before" or "recently" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in the immediately preceding years" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause. It specifies a timeframe directly before a particular point, adding temporal context. As stated by Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Academia

28%

News & Media

26%

Science

26%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

9%

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in the immediately preceding years" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adverbial phrase that provides precise temporal context, indicating the years directly before a specific event or point in time. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is suitable for formal writing and academic contexts. While it appears frequently in academic, news, and scientific sources, simpler alternatives may be more appropriate for informal communication. When using this phrase, clarity and specificity are key to avoid ambiguity. Remember to avoid overuse in casual conversation and be mindful of the desired level of formality. Authoritative sources like The New York Times and Cornell University frequently employ this phrase, underscoring its reliability in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the directly preceding years

Adds emphasis with 'directly' for a clearer connection.

in the prior years

Replaces "immediately preceding" with "prior", offering a slightly less formal tone.

in the years just before

Uses simpler language to convey the same timeframe.

in the years beforehand

Substitutes "immediately preceding" with "beforehand", providing a more concise alternative.

in the previous years

Replaces "immediately preceding" with "previous", offering a standard alternative.

in the years leading up to

Emphasizes the approach towards a specific event or time.

in the few years prior

Highlights a short duration before the reference point.

in the recent past

Provides a broader timeframe than "immediately preceding years".

in the time period prior

Uses formal language to denote the time before something.

in the years formerly

Uses 'formerly' to indicate a time before the current period.

FAQs

How can I use "in the immediately preceding years" in a sentence?

You can use "in the immediately preceding years" to refer to a period directly before a specific event or time. For example: "The economic trends "in the immediately preceding years" significantly influenced our current market strategies."

What are some alternatives to "in the immediately preceding years"?

Alternatives include "in the prior years", "in the years just before", or "in the previous years". The best choice depends on the desired level of formality and the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "in the immediately preceding years"?

This phrase is most appropriate in formal writing, academic papers, or professional reports where precision and clarity are important. Simpler phrases are often better suited for casual conversation.

Is there a difference between "in the immediately preceding years" and "in the years immediately preceding"?

The two phrases are largely interchangeable. However, "in the years immediately preceding" may sound slightly more natural in certain contexts. Both are grammatically correct.