many years preceding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "many years preceding" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a time period that occurred before a specific event or point in time. Example: "The research was conducted many years preceding the major breakthrough in the field."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

For many years preceding that crisis I had been very focused on achieving goals and I was very successful.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Our data are not surprising from a pathophysiologic point of view, because there are evidences showing the association between UA and insulin resistance (1, 3, 22) that, for many years, precedes the clinical appearance of diabetes.

Diabetes Care

To be sure, these relationships have existed for many years, long preceding the initiation of these learning grants.

BMC International Health and Human Rights

Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley developed many of their commodities operations in the years preceding the 2008 financial crash, when the banks were not officially classified as "Bank Holding Companies" eligible for government perks like low-interest loans from the Fed.

Huffington Post

It's five to six thousand years preceding our culture.

The New Yorker

aIn the 5 years preceding hospital admission.

BMC Nephrology

"The riddle of what a newsweekly should be has been in the air for many years and long preceded the incredible acceleration and obliteration of news cycles in the world of the Internet, so it will be fascinating to see where she takes Newsweek".

The New York Times

More specifically, assume that individual j had many sexual partners during the year preceding the one-year survey period (i.e. n j → ∞).

Global Health Action

Two more London years preceded her present post.

The New Yorker

In many ways, Metni did most of the hard work in the year preceding their meeting.

The Guardian - Tech

| In the year preceding pregnancy.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "many years preceding", ensure the context clearly establishes the point of reference. For instance, "Many years preceding the economic crash, the company invested heavily in technology" offers a more precise timeline.

Common error

Avoid vague references when using "many years preceding". Always ensure that the reader can easily understand which event or time period serves as the point of comparison. For example, instead of saying "Many years preceding, changes occurred", specify what those years preceded: "Many years preceding the war, changes occurred".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "many years preceding" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a temporal relationship. It specifies that a considerable duration occurred before a particular event or point in time. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "many years preceding" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase that helps to establish temporal relationships, particularly highlighting a significant duration before a specific event. As noted by Ludwig AI, this phrase is accurate and suitable for written English. It finds common use in scientific, news, and formal contexts. When writing, ensure clarity by specifying the event that these years precede to prevent ambiguity. Consider more casual alternatives like "long before" in informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

years prior to

A more formal way of indicating years before.

long before

Emphasizes the duration of time before an event.

a long time before

A simpler, more general way of saying "many years preceding".

well in advance of

Highlights the ample time before something.

many years ahead of

Indicates something happened chronologically before another event.

much earlier than

A direct comparison of timing.

considerably earlier than

Stresses a significant difference in time.

a significant period before

Highlights the importance of the time difference.

ages before

Suggests a very distant time in the past.

far back in time before

Emphasizes how long ago something happened in relation to something else.

FAQs

How can I use "many years preceding" in a sentence?

Use "many years preceding" to indicate that something happened a long time before a specific event. For example, "Many years preceding the invention of the internet, people communicated through letters".

What's the difference between "many years preceding" and "many years before"?

"Many years preceding" is slightly more formal, while "many years before" is more common in everyday language. Both indicate a period of time that occurred before a specific event or point in time.

What are some alternatives to using "many years preceding"?

Alternatives include phrases like "long before", "years prior to", or "well in advance of", which all convey a similar meaning of a time period before a specific event.

Is "many years preceding" formal or informal?

"Many years preceding" tends to be more formal and is often found in academic or scientific writing, while more casual alternatives exist for informal contexts.