in the recent decade

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "in the recent decade" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when discussing a period of time that began approximately 10 years ago and is still currently occurring. For example, "In the recent decade, climate change has become an increasingly urgent issue for governments around the world."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Revanchist nationalism has corroded democratic and secular institutions in both India and Israel, which, not surprisingly, have developed a strong military relationship in the recent decade.

The Guardian - Opinion

"People are going to say mid-2002 would have been one of the best times to invest in the recent decade".

The New York Times

The Earth's temperature has surged in the recent decade: 2016 was the hottest year on record and January 2017 was 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th century average.

Huffington Post

For families with an income of $50,000, they have lost ground in the recent decade, with incomes rising hardly at all while energy, education, grocery, and health care costs have risen dramatically.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Much the same occurred in the most recent decade when oil went skyward thanks to a dollar cascading downward.

Forbes

At least 72 people were killed in the accident, the worst house collapse in the country in recent decades.

The New York Times

Because of the surge in traffic in recent decades, the current system is often operating at the limits of its capacity.

The New York Times

And government has certainly carried out major infrastructure projects in the city in recent decades.

The New York Times

There have been several substantial oil spills in the region in recent decades.

The New York Times

Some lawyers estimate as many as 20,000 people were molested by Catholic clergy in the U.S. in recent decades.

Forbes

This overall pattern of thinning ice in the Arctic in recent decades is really starting to catch up with us".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "in the recent decade", ensure the context clearly establishes which decade you are referencing, especially if the writing spans multiple decades. Using specific years for context can improve clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "in the recent decade" when you actually mean 'in recent years'. A decade is a specific ten-year period, while 'years' refers to a less defined timeframe.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in the recent decade" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause, indicating the time frame in which an action or event occurred. Ludwig AI confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in the recent decade" is a grammatically sound way to reference the last ten years. Ludwig AI validates its proper usage, although it is not a very common phrase. Predominantly used in News & Media, this phrase serves to provide a temporal anchor, situating events and trends within the specified timeframe. For more frequent and alternative expressions, consider phrases like "in the past decade" or "over the last ten years". When using "in the recent decade", clarity is key, ensuring the context makes it easy to understand which specific decade is being referenced.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the past decade

Replaces 'recent' with 'past', focusing on a completed period.

over the last ten years

Specifies the timeframe more explicitly as a period of ten years.

in the last decade

Similar to 'in the past decade', focusing on the most recently completed decade.

during the previous ten years

Highlights a specific ten-year period prior to the present.

in the last ten-year period

More formal way of stating the previous ten years.

throughout the current decade

Emphasizes that the decade is ongoing.

in the present decade

Focuses specifically on the current ten-year timeframe.

in recent years

Uses 'years' instead of 'decade', indicating a shorter, less defined period.

in the decade just past

Highlights that the decade is recently completed.

over the recent ten years

Rephrases the timeframe with slight emphasis on the duration.

FAQs

How can I use "in the recent decade" in a sentence?

Use "in the recent decade" to refer to a period of ten years that has just passed or is nearing its end. For example, "In the recent decade, there have been significant advancements in artificial intelligence."

What's a good alternative to "in the recent decade"?

Depending on the context, alternatives like "in the past decade", "over the last ten years", or "in the last decade" can be used.

Is it more accurate to say "in recent years" or "in the recent decade"?

It depends on the time frame you're referring to. "In recent years" is more general and refers to a period of several years without being specific. "In the recent decade" refers specifically to the most recent ten-year period.

How does "in the recent decade" compare to "in recent decades"?

"In the recent decade" refers to a single, specific ten-year period. "In recent decades" refers to multiple ten-year periods, implying a longer timeframe and broader trends.