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it's been five years
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

Alternative expressions(3)

five years ago

It has been five years since

Five years have gone by since

Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

(RNS) It's been five years since Celeste Peterson's only daughter was killed in a shooting rampage at Virginia Tech and she's finally made peace with God.

News & Media

Huffington Post

It's been five years since my mom's death.

News & Media

Vice

It's been five years since the final episode of HBO's series "The Wire".

News & Media

The New York Times - Books

It's been five years since twin blasts near the Boston Marathon's finish line changed thousands of lives forever.

News & Media

Huffington Post

It's been five years since Swedish House Mafia triumphantly headlined Coachella 2012's opening night.

News & Media

Vice

"It's been five years, baby.

News & Media

The New Yorker

"It's been five years and a baby," she said.

News & Media

The New York Times - Sports

Dear Joan, it's been five years since you were gone.

News & Media

The New York Times

It's been five years since I had biscotti.

News & Media

The New Yorker

But now that it's been five years, the topic of death and war has partly eroded.

News & Media

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

"We just thought, 'It's been five years.

News & Media

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "it's been five years", ensure the context clearly indicates what event or starting point you're referencing. This adds clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "it's been five years" without specifying what the five years refer to. Always provide context for what began or happened five years ago to maintain clarity for the reader.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

86%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it's been five years" primarily functions as an introductory expression to indicate a period of time that has elapsed since a particular event or point in time. It often serves to set the stage for a reflection, comparison, or update on a situation. Ludwig AI provides many examples of how the phrase is used in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

Less common in

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Reference

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it's been five years" is a very common and grammatically correct expression used primarily to introduce a time frame of five years since a specific event. Ludwig AI's analysis reveals that this phrase is most frequently found in News & Media contexts, maintaining a neutral register suitable for various audiences. Common usage involves setting the stage for reflection or comparison. For clarity, it's advisable to specify the reference point to avoid ambiguity. Alternative phrases, such as "five years have passed since", can provide a more formal tone.

More alternative expressions(10)

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

It has been five years since

A more formal rephrasing, emphasizing the duration that has elapsed.

Five years have gone by since

Highlights the passage of time in a more reflective manner.

Five years have passed since

Rephrases with an explicit subject and verb, emphasizing the completion of the time period.

We're five years on from

Emphasizes the current perspective looking back at a specific event.

Five years ago

Simplifies the phrasing to a direct statement of when something occurred.

It marks five years since

Emphasizes the significance of the five-year anniversary.

A half-decade has elapsed since

Uses a more descriptive term for five years, adding a touch of formality.

The five-year mark has been reached since

Highlights the achievement of a five-year milestone.

Five years in the making

Shifts the focus to the duration of a process or development.

Five years hence

A more formal and somewhat archaic way of referring to five years from a specific point in time.

FAQs

What does "it's been five years" imply?

The phrase "it's been five years" implies that a significant amount of time has passed since a particular event or point in time, often inviting reflection or consideration of changes that have occurred during that period.

How can I rephrase "it's been five years" to sound more formal?

To sound more formal, you could say "five years have passed since" or "it has been five years since". These options offer a more elevated tone.

Is it correct to say "it has been five year" instead of "it's been five years"?

No, the correct phrase is "it's been five years" or "it has been five years". The word "years" is plural because it refers to more than one year. "Year" would only be correct if referring to a single year.

What's the difference between "it's been five years" and "five years ago"?

"It's been five years" emphasizes the duration and the current relevance of an event that happened in the past. "Five years ago" simply indicates the point in time when something occurred, without necessarily highlighting its continued significance.

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Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Source & Trust

86%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences:

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it's been five yearsGrammar usage guide and real-world examples

it's been five years
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples