odd number years

USAGE SUMMARY

"odd number years" is a grammatically correct phrase and can be used in written English.
For example, "I try to take a vacation in odd number years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Today, eight boroughs, seven towns and one city hold local elections on the first Monday in May of odd number years.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Information for fruit is collected in odd numbered years, while vegetable information is collected in even numbered years.

Cornell University

If organism \(a\) has 2 offspring each year, and organism \(b\) has 1 offspring in odd numbered years and 3 in even numbered ones, then, ceteris paribus, after ten generations there will be 512 descendants of \(a\) and 243 descendants of \(b\).

SEP

The Caribbean-style Birmingham International Carnival takes place in odd numbered years.

Wikipedia

In this scenario, one parent may have certain holidays in even numbered years and the other parent will have the same holidays in odd numbered years or vice versa.

Huffington Post

Since the New Mexico legislature convened for only 30 days in even numbered years and 60 days in odd numbered years, he was able to continue working at Los Alamos, taking leave without pay to attend.

Wikipedia

Let the number of breeding females in year n be denoted b n ; that is, 1 the coefficient of 1/4 follows from the assumptions of equal sex ratio and biennial breeding with the further assumption that, for each age class, the proportions of females breeding in even and odd numbered years are equal.

Biology Direct

Many Giants fans shrugged this off, noting that 2015 is an odd numbered year and therefore not one in which the team is expected to do much.

Huffington Post

The Giants, after all, had won the World Series in each of the last three even numbered years, but had not even made it to the postseason in an odd numbered year since 2003.

Huffington Post

The initial sample of workplaces was refreshed in odd-number years (2001, 2003, and 2005) to reflect attrition and firm births.

Health Economics Review

My advice: pick an odd number of years to extend the cuts: one year, or three years.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a specific event or activity that occurs only in odd-numbered years, clearly state the event and the timeframe for better clarity. For example, instead of just saying "the project will be active in "odd number years"," say "the project will be active in odd-numbered years, specifically 2025, 2027, and so on."

Common error

Avoid using "odd number years" when the more common and grammatically preferred form is "odd-numbered years". The hyphenated form acts as a compound adjective, improving readability and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "odd number years" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun, specifying years that are identified by an odd number. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, though it is less common than "odd-numbered years".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "odd number years" is grammatically correct but less common than the hyphenated "odd-numbered years". Ludwig AI confirms this. It is used to specify years that are identified by an odd number and appears across various contexts such as news, science, and academia. For clarity and adherence to standard grammatical practice, opting for "odd-numbered years" is generally recommended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

years with odd numbers

This alternative focuses on the years themselves having odd numbers rather than a characteristic associated with them.

odd-numbered years

This is a more formal and commonly used variation of the original phrase, employing a hyphenated compound adjective.

years divisible by two with a remainder

This alternative uses mathematical language to describe the concept of odd years.

years not evenly divisible by two

This describes odd years using division and parity.

years ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9

This alternative specifies the possible last digits of odd-numbered years.

every other year beginning with an odd number

This specifies a pattern of selection for the years.

years following an even-numbered year

This describes odd years in relation to their predecessors.

years where the last digit is not a multiple of two

The phrase uses divisibility rule for odd years.

years corresponding to an odd number in a sequence

This phrase refers to odd years in the context of a sequence or series.

non-even years

This phrase refers to years that are not even and it's much more abstract.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the phrase "odd number years" in a sentence?

While grammatically correct, it's more common to use "odd-numbered years". For instance, "Local elections are held in odd-numbered years" is clearer than "Local elections are held in "odd number years"".

Is there a more common or formal way to say "odd number years"?

Yes, the phrase "odd-numbered years" is more widely accepted and frequently used in both formal and informal contexts. It's considered the standard way to express this concept.

What's the difference between "odd number years" and "odd-numbered years"?

The primary difference is grammatical style and common usage. "Odd-numbered years", with the hyphen, functions as a compound adjective, making it the preferred and clearer choice.

When should I use "odd number years" versus "odd-numbered years"?

Opt for "odd-numbered years" in almost all contexts for better clarity and adherence to standard grammatical practice. While "odd number years" is understandable, it's less conventional.