preceding two years

USAGE SUMMARY

"preceding two years" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to talk about events, occurrences, or trends that happened in the two years before the present moment. For example: "Job growth has been stagnant in the preceding two years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Some Biennials simply recap the commercial activity of the preceding two years.

The New York Times - Arts

But that ignores the budget activity of the preceding two years – which was mostly about cutting nondefense discretionary spending.

The New York Times

When Dr. Cheek arrived at Howard, students had protested living conditions and educational policies for the preceding two years.

The New York Times

For the preceding two years Blatter let it be known that he supported Johansson, who was recognised to have integrity and to have done a fine, professional job.

The Guardian - Sport

In addition, no one may serve in the Obama administration if he or she lobbied an executive agency in the preceding two years.

The New York Times

There had been some warning tremors during the preceding two years, as profit margins on Sony's consumer-electronics products began to fall.

The Economist

USP: the world's sexiest hotel Stats: opened in 2006, 464 rooms, seven pools, eight restaurants Highlights: launch reports marvelled that the hotel had more mirrors than had been produced in the whole of Turkey in the preceding two years.

The Guardian - Travel

There has been no rush to suicide under this process; only 21 patients died from taking the lethal medications last year, down from 27 in each of the preceding two years.

The New York Times

Any compensation increases after 2010 should be considered only in odd-numbered years and should be no more than the Consumer Price Index increase for the preceding two years, the panel said.

The New York Times

The $10,000 prize, named for President Lyndon B. Johnson's sister and given every two years, recognizes the most distinguished book of poetry written by an American and published during the preceding two years.

The New York Times

New mortgages, meanwhile, fell by 27.8% in 2013, the lowest number in the past five years, while average house prices fell by 7.8%, a slower fall than in the preceding two years.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "preceding two years", ensure the context clearly defines the point from which those two years are measured. Ambiguity can arise if the reference point isn't explicit.

Common error

Avoid using "preceding two years" without a clear temporal anchor. For instance, instead of saying "Sales declined in the preceding two years", specify "Sales declined in the preceding two years (2023-2024)" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "preceding two years" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It specifies a period of time, indicating the two years that immediately precede a particular event, date, or point of reference. Ludwig provides examples of this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "preceding two years" is a common and grammatically correct way to refer to the two years immediately before a specified point in time. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across various contexts. It's particularly prevalent in news, scientific, and formal business writing. When using this phrase, ensure that the temporal reference is clear to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like ""last two years"" or "previous 24 months" can offer varying degrees of formality and precision. Remember to specify the reference point to clarify which time span you're discussing. For example, 'unemployment has increased in the preceding two years (2023-2025)'. Overall, "preceding two years" is a versatile phrase for establishing temporal context in various forms of communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

last two years

Simple and direct way to refer to the two years immediately before the present.

prior couple of years

Emphasizes the couple of years before the reference point.

past couple of years

Similar to 'prior couple of years', highlighting the recent past.

previous 24 months

Uses a specific time measurement (months) for greater precision.

two years before

Focuses on the temporal relationship relative to a specific event or time.

two years immediately before

Highlights the direct and immediate connection to the preceding timeframe.

two years running up to

Emphasizes the period leading directly to a specific event.

two years leading up to

Stresses the preparation or events leading to a particular moment.

the two years in question

Refers to a specific two-year period already under discussion.

the two antecedent years

More formal and academic way to denote the preceding two years.

FAQs

How do I use "preceding two years" in a sentence?

Use "preceding two years" to refer to the two-year period immediately before a specific time or event. For example: "The company's profits increased significantly in the "last two years", but stagnated in the preceding two years."

What's an alternative to "preceding two years"?

Alternatives include phrases like "prior couple of years", ""last two years"", or "previous 24 months", depending on the desired level of formality and specificity.

Is it correct to say "previous two years" instead of "preceding two years"?

Yes, "previous two years" is generally acceptable and often interchangeable with "preceding two years". However, "preceding" often implies a more formal or technical context, while "previous" is more commonly used in everyday language.

What is the difference between "the preceding two years" and "the following two years"?

"The preceding two years" refers to the two years before a specific point in time, while "the following two years" refers to the two years after that point. They are opposite in direction, relative to the reference point.