past decade

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "past decade" is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, "The internet has seen immense growth over the past decade."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Over the past decade, Kazakhs have experienced a steady reduction in individual rights.

The Guardian

The same can't be said, though, of the boom of the past decade.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

His party has taken a pasting over the past five years for its participation in the coalition and looks set to lose at least half of its seats.

The Guardian - Opinion

Specifically, the Nasdaq excludes anyone who was employed the company in the past three years.

The New York Times

Thanks to energy exports, Kazakhstan is central Asia's most prosperous state, with annual economic growth averaging about 10% for much of the first decade of the new millennium.

The Guardian

The issue came to light when the estate took a number of photo libraries to court in the middle of the last decade for selling her image on without permission.

The Guardian - Film

The leader of the centrist Alliance party added: "These talks were never about one parade this summer, they were about agreeing to change the legislation for future years as well as dealing with flags and finding a means of dealing with the past, which provides victims with justice and truth.

The Guardian

Woman in Gold is released in cinemas next month, but at its premiere in Berlin the Austrian reviewers were generous about its portrayal of a national reluctance to face the art crimes of the past, according to playwright Alexi Kaye Campbell, who wrote the screenplay.

The Guardian - Arts

Although a growing body of evidence, including interviews with Russian soldiers, indicates that Moscow has sent active-duty troops and equipment to support the pro-Russia rebels over the past year, the president, Vladimir Putin, continues to deny his forces' participation in the conflict.

The Guardian

Yet the coalition endured the past year, and is most likely to survive 2013 as well, if only because its very unpopularity gives the Tories and the Lib Dems a mutual interest in avoiding an early election.

The Guardian - Opinion

A survey earlier this year conducted by the benevolent fund of the Professional Cricketers Association (PCA) asked 500 cricketers present and past a range of questions about mental and physical health.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "past decade", ensure the context clearly indicates which specific ten-year period you are referencing, especially if it's not immediately obvious to the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "past decade" when you actually mean "recent years" or a shorter period. Be precise about the duration you are referring to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "past decade" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as an adverbial modifier to indicate a timeframe. It specifies the period of ten years immediately preceding the present.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "past decade" functions as a noun phrase indicating the ten years preceding the present. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and typically used to provide temporal context in various domains, particularly in the News & Media. While alternatives like ""last ten years"" or ""previous decade"" exist, ensuring clarity in the specific timeframe is crucial when using the term. Common writing errors involve vague references and should be avoided for more precise language. The usage data suggests it is "Rare" due to the limited set of examples found. Remember to choose the wording that is most appropriate for your specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

last ten years

Replaces "decade" with a more explicit numerical reference.

previous decade

Emphasizes the sequential aspect, referring to the decade immediately preceding the current one.

recent ten years

Highlights the recency of the period.

the last decade or so

Adds a degree of approximation to the timeframe.

in the last ten years

Prepositional phrase specifying the timeframe.

the nineteen-twenties

Refers to a specific past decade.

the aughts

More informal way to describe a past decade.

the teens

More informal way to describe a past decade.

the noughties

Referring to the decade between 2000 and 2009.

the last generation

Broadens the scope to encompass a generational timeframe.

FAQs

How can I use "past decade" in a sentence?

You can use "past decade" to refer to the ten years immediately preceding the present, as in "Technological advancements have accelerated significantly in the "past decade"".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "past decade"?

Alternatives include "last ten years", "previous decade", or "recent years", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "in the past decade" or "over the past decade"?

Both "in the past decade" and "over the past decade" are grammatically correct and commonly used. The choice depends on stylistic preference.

How does "past decade" differ from "last decade"?

"Past decade" generally refers to the ten years leading up to the present, while "last decade" could refer to a specific decade, such as "the "last decade" of the 20th century".