outlying years

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "outlying years" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to years that are significantly different from the main trend or average, often in statistical or analytical contexts. Example: "When analyzing the data, we noticed that the outlying years skewed the overall results, making it difficult to draw accurate conclusions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

And those calculations will change over time as additional provisions of the plans take effect in outlying years.

The New York Times

But in the outlying years, these projections almost certainly understate the shortfall, as congressional number-crunchers are required to assume that current policy doesn't change.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Though most clients tend not to remember it years later, good financial planners will generally sit down at the beginning of a relationship, after clients have declared the sort of risk tolerance they think they have, and remind them how bad things can get in a truly outlying year.

The New York Times

He predicted that, while the budget situation over the next four years was "dreadful", the outlying four years were worse.

The Guardian

There was a significant age difference between the two groups (t(df = 374) = 1.99, p < .05) due to an outlying three years of age in the group of inpatient decliners.

BMC Pediatrics

Two volunteer-staffed libraries have been running successfully on outlying housing estates for several years, with plans to extend the concept to civic and leisure centres.

The Guardian - Books

On the few occasions when the family spends a weekend in Rome, Renzi joins them at a seventeenth-century villa in a tranquil, outlying Roman park which for years has served as one of the Prime Minister's official retreats.

The New Yorker

"In the developing world, wi-fi carried over existing phone lines will be the only option for downloading large amounts of data for years before 4G mobile reaches outlying areas," he says.

BBC

Its smiling face was even seen at the Cheung Chau bun festival, a 200-year-old tradition on an outlying island.

The New York Times

Over the years he had established in his meadows a variety of outlying structures, including two shepherd's huts, an old wooden caravan with a cracked window and a railway wagon that he had painted Pullman-purple.

The Guardian - Books

For four years, a Cessna 120 was used to deliver papers to outlying communities.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience. While technically accurate, the term can be slightly niche. Ensure that the audience has the appropriate level of technical understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "outlying years" when you simply mean future or subsequent years. "Outlying years" specifically refers to years that are statistically or qualitatively different from the main trend, not just years that come later.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "outlying years" functions primarily as a noun phrase modified by an adjective. It is used to identify a specific subset of years that are statistically or qualitatively different from the norm. As Ludwig AI notes, this phrase appears in contexts where deviations are significant.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "outlying years" is a phrase used to describe years that significantly deviate from the norm, often in statistical or analytical contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable. While relatively rare, it appears in news, media, and scientific publications. When using this phrase, ensure you provide enough context to clarify the reason for the deviation. Alternatives include "anomalous years" and "exceptional years". Avoid confusing "outlying years" with simply future years; the former implies a deviation from the expected trend.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

outlier years

Directly parallels the concept of 'outliers' in statistics, referring to data points far from the mean.

anomalous years

This alternative emphasizes the irregularity or deviation from the norm of the years in question.

deviant years

This alternative highlights the departure from expected patterns or trends during those years.

aberrant years

Similar to 'anomalous', this term suggests a deviation from the typical or expected course.

exceptional years

This alternative focuses on the unusual nature of the years, whether positive or negative.

atypical years

A synonym for 'unusual' or 'anomalous', indicating a departure from the norm.

irregular years

This term simply highlights the lack of conformity to a regular pattern.

unusual years

A more general term indicating that the years in question were not typical.

extreme years

This emphasizes the magnitude of difference in the years.

peripheral years

This alternative suggests that the years are on the edge of a set of data or timeframe.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "outlying years" in a sentence?

To effectively use "outlying years", provide context that clarifies why those years are considered different or statistically significant. For instance, "The analysis excluded the "outlying years" to provide a more accurate representation of the long-term trend".

What are some alternatives to using "outlying years"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "anomalous years", "exceptional years", or "irregular years". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

In what contexts is the term "outlying years" most appropriate?

The term "outlying years" is most appropriate in statistical, analytical, or financial contexts where you want to highlight years that deviate significantly from the average or expected trend. It's especially useful when these years skew data or require separate analysis.

What is the difference between "outlying years" and "projected years"?

"Outlying years" refers to years that have already occurred and show a significant deviation from the norm. "Projected years", on the other hand, refers to future years and their predicted outcomes, not necessarily implying any deviation.