over these years

USAGE SUMMARY

"over these years" is a perfectly fine phrase for written English.
It is used to refer to a period of time spanning from the present to some point in the past. For example: "Over these years, I have gained a lot of experience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Over these years, cabdrivers became figures in popular culture.

The New York Times - Books

And income inequality widened significantly over these years.

The New York Times

Over these years, they have suffered unceasing harassment by the Israeli army and settlers..

The Guardian

This book often fails to detail Torre's role in the decisions made over these years.

The New York Times

The typewriter and the sewing machine hover over these years, both going furiously.

The New York Times - Books

But over these years I've come to realize that hope is sometimes slow torture.

The New York Times

The core issues over these years of conflict have not been territory, refugees or Jerusalem.

The New York Times

As a percentage of these profits, Lockheed Martin's reimbursements have averaged 16 percent over these years.

The New York Times

Far too much time and effort over these years has been akin to fiddling while Rome burns.

The Guardian - Opinion

"For middle- and low-wage workers, the median wage basically went nowhere over these years," said the economist Jared Bernstein.

The New York Times

The extra increase in total spending over these years was some £20 billion as a result of the ringfencing.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "over these years", ensure the time frame is relevant to the point you are making and clearly understood by your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "over these years" when referring to a single, completed action in the past. Use past simple instead: "I lived here for five years" is correct; "Over these years, I lived here" is less accurate. It's more appropriate for describing a trend or ongoing state.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "over these years" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb or clause by specifying the duration during which an action or state occurs. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "over these years" is a very common and grammatically correct prepositional phrase functioning as an adverbial of time. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used to provide temporal context and indicate developments or changes that have occurred over a specific duration. It has a neutral register and is frequently found in news, science, and formal business contexts. When using this phrase, be mindful of maintaining consistency in tense and avoiding overly broad statements about isolated past actions. Related alternatives like "in recent years" and "during this period" can offer slightly different nuances. By heeding such guidance, writers can effectively convey their intended meaning with clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

over the last several years

Specifies a non-exact quantity of recent years.

during this period

Emphasizes the specific time frame being discussed.

for the past few years

Focuses on a limited number of years leading up to now.

in recent years

Highlights that the period is closer to the present.

throughout this time

Stresses the continuity of something across the period.

in the course of these years

Emphasizes the progression of time and events within it.

in the intervening years

Highlights the time between two specific points.

during the preceding years

Points to years that came before a specific event or time.

across this time span

Highlights the duration of the timeframe.

in the years since then

Refers to the time elapsed since a particular event in the past.

FAQs

How can I use "over these years" in a sentence?

You can use "over these years" to describe changes, trends, or developments that have occurred from a past point until now. For example: "Over these years I have learned a great deal about the subject."

What are some alternatives to "over these years"?

Alternatives include phrases like "in recent years", "during this period", or "for the past few years", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "in these years" or "over these years"?

"Over these years" suggests a span of time during which something has evolved or changed. "In these years" simply refers to a time frame. Therefore, "over these years" is often more suitable when describing a process or trend.

Does "over these years" imply a continuous action?

Yes, "over these years" often implies a continuous action or a state that has persisted throughout the specified time. It suggests that something has been happening or developing consistently during that period. For example: "Over these years we have developed new strategies."