over the past few years

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "over the past few years" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to indicate a period of time in the recent past. For example, "Over the past few years, I have learned a lot about computer programming."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

transactions announced over the past few years.

The New York Times

However, over the past few years it has rebounded strongly.

The Economist

But over the past few years, that assumption has cracked.

The Economist

Over the past few years they have got close.

The Economist

Over the past few years, human computing has been reborn.

The Economist

This has grown explosively over the past few years.

The Economist

Over the past few years, research on Alzheimer's has exploded.

The New York Times - Health

And over the past few years I haven't been disappointed.

The Guardian - Travel

The political blogosphere has exploded over the past few years.

The Economist

"It's been fairly flat over the past few years".

The New York Times

But over the past few years, that's really turned around".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When precision is required, consider specifying the exact number of years (e.g., "over the past three years") instead of using "few".

Common error

Avoid using "over the past few years" when referring to events that occurred more than approximately five years ago. If the timeframe is longer, use a more appropriate phrase like "over the past decade" or "in recent decades".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "over the past few years" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb or clause by specifying the period during which an action or state occurred. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

45%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "over the past few years" is a versatile and grammatically sound way to indicate a recent period, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It functions as an adverbial phrase, providing temporal context to statements across diverse fields from scientific research to media reports. Ludwig's examples highlight its widespread use across various sources, with News & Media and Science being the most frequent contexts. While generally neutral in tone, it's essential to consider the timeframe's accuracy and choose alternatives like "in recent years" for stylistic variation when required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

during the last few years

This alternative is very similar, simply substituting "over" with "during".

these past few years

This option adds a demonstrative pronoun ('these'), placing more emphasis on the specific years being referenced.

in the last several years

This alternative replaces 'few' with 'several', suggesting a marginally longer duration.

for the past several years

This alternative uses "several" instead of "few", implying a slightly longer timeframe.

in recent years

This alternative is shorter and slightly more formal.

throughout the recent years

This alternative offers a subtly different flow, emphasizing the continuous nature of the period.

in the preceding years

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes the time leading up to the present.

in recent times

This alternative is more general and less precise about the timeframe.

since recently

This option rephrases the timeframe, emphasizing the recent start of the period.

lately

This alternative is concise and informal, suitable for casual contexts.

FAQs

How can I use "over the past few years" in a sentence?

You can use "over the past few years" to describe trends, changes, or developments that have happened in the recent past. For example, "Over the past few years, the popularity of electric vehicles has increased significantly."

What are some alternatives to "over the past few years"?

Alternatives include "in recent years", "during the last few years", or "for the past several years", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "in the past few years" instead of "over the past few years"?

Yes, "in the past few years" is a grammatically correct and widely used alternative. The choice between the two often comes down to personal preference or stylistic considerations.

What's the difference between "over the past few years" and "over the last few years"?

The phrases "over the past few years" and "over the last few years" are essentially interchangeable and have the same meaning. There is no significant difference in their usage or connotation.