many years since

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "many years since" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used to express the passage of time and can be used in a variety of situations. Example: "It has been many years since I last saw my childhood friend." This sentence indicates that a long time has passed since the speaker last saw their friend from their childhood. Another example: "The city has changed a lot in many years since I moved away." This sentence conveys that the speaker has been away from the city for a significant amount of time and has noticed significant changes upon their return. One can also use "many years since" in a more formal or literary context, such as in a historical novel: "It had been many years since the kingdom had seen such a prosperous era." This sentence conveys the idea that a significant amount of time has passed since the kingdom experienced a time of great prosperity.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's been many years since I watched it.

The Guardian - Film

It's many years since my father died, in 1968.

The Guardian - Tech

Fonthill Abbey [graphic] ; Mr. Beckford (from a portrait taken many years since) ; Lansdowne Tower, near Bath.

Yale University

It has been many years since I have read these stories.

The New Yorker

"I haven't been on the dance floor in so many years, since the '70s," he said.

The New York Times

I've been in Miami on and off for many years, since I was a child.

The New York Times

For most it will have been many years since they studied at such a high level.

The Economist

"It has been so many years since I've lived in a place that felt like home".

The New York Times

It's been many years since he released a movie or taped a comedy special.

The New York Times - Arts

That said, it has been many years since I've read fantasy or science fiction.

The New York Times - Books

Presumably it's been many years since he last took a bus.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "many years since" to clearly indicate a substantial period has passed between two events or states. It provides a sense of duration without needing to specify an exact number of years.

Common error

Avoid using "many years since" with future tenses. It's used to describe something that happened in the past, not something that will happen in the future. For example, avoid saying "It will be many years since I see her", and instead say "It has been many years since I saw her."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "many years since" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, indicating a duration that has elapsed between a past event and the present. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in specifying how long ago something occurred.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

15%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "many years since" is a grammatically correct and very common way to indicate that a significant amount of time has passed since a particular event. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread use. Its primary function is to act as an adverbial phrase, adding temporal context to a sentence. While versatile, it is best used in neutral to formal contexts. Be mindful of maintaining consistent tense usage and avoid using it with future tenses. Alternatives like "a long time has passed since" can provide nuanced variations in meaning. With a high expert rating and frequent appearance in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, "many years since" is a reliable and effective phrase for expressing the passage of time.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a long time has passed since

This alternative is more descriptive, explicitly stating that a significant duration has elapsed.

years have gone by since

This alternative focuses on the passing of years, offering a slightly different perspective.

it's been a long while since

This alternative is slightly less formal than "many years", but maintains a similar level of precision.

it has been a considerable time since

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes the substantial nature of the time elapsed.

quite some time has elapsed since

This alternative highlights the duration with a slightly more indirect tone.

it's been ages since

This alternative is more informal and emphasizes the length of time in a less precise way.

a significant period has transpired since

This alternative is highly formal and emphasizes the completion of a notable time span.

it feels like a lifetime since

This alternative expresses a subjective sense of time, suggesting the event feels distant.

it's been donkey's years since

This alternative is a British English idiom that indicates a very long time in an informal way.

it's been a minute since

This alternative is a modern, informal expression implying a long but unspecified duration.

FAQs

How do I use "many years since" in a sentence?

The phrase "many years since" typically introduces a time frame. For example, "It has been "many years since" I last visited that city" or "Many years since the war, the country has rebuilt its infrastructure".

What can I say instead of "many years since"?

You can use alternatives like "a long time has passed since", "it's been ages since", or "it has been a considerable time since" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "for many years since"?

While grammatically understandable, "for many years since" is less common and can sound awkward. It's usually better to rephrase the sentence to use ""many years since"" directly or use a different construction altogether.

What's the difference between "many years since" and "a few years since"?

"Many years since" indicates a significant duration, suggesting a considerable period has passed. "A few years since" implies a shorter, less impactful period, typically meaning two to five years.