separated by five years

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "separated by five years" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a time interval between two events or occurrences. Example: "The two significant events in her life were separated by five years, marking a period of change and growth."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Multivariate multiple-group latent growth modeling was applied to data from narrow cohorts separated by five years of age.

Intelligence

An increased trend of positive skin tests was found in two surveys separated by five years in the 60ies and 70ies [ 18, 19].

BMC Public Health

Indeed, the correlations of drug and ADE counts were higher between the two Lexi-comp snapshots (separated by five years) than they were between Lexi-comp 2010 and SIDER 2012.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The central couple in the film are only separated by nine years which is pretty close in Hollywood standards.

The Guardian - Film

Periods of study at Luton and St Albans art schools were separated by two years in the RAF in Hong Kong.

The Guardian - Arts

They were separated by seven years, not to mention the state of Nevada, after Jolley was selected in the second round of the 2002 draft by the Oakland Raiders.

The New York Times

The fact that both Ikea and HP set the same deadline for renewables, despite the fact that their pledges were separated by four years, illustrates a stunning change in renewable power generation.

The Guardian

The trials facing the President and the Vice-President, who are separated by nineteen years and a canyon in style, have brought them closer than many expected — not least of all themselves.

The New Yorker

But the two videos, separated by nine years, nevertheless trace what may be the essential trajectory of his development, from hermetic and dryly cerebral to less hermetic and more accessible and emotionally layered.

The New York Times

Of these two Australian teams triumphant in Perth, separated by seven years and a gulf of change, one struggled to impose itself early before running away with the match in the second innings on the back of some muscular middle order hitting.

The Guardian - Sport

Venus transits come in pairs separated by eight years, with more than a century usually elapsing between one pair and the next.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "separated by five years", ensure the context clearly defines what is being separated, such as events, studies, or age groups.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by explicitly stating what entities or events are being separated. Instead of saying "They were separated by five years", specify "Their research studies were separated by five years."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "separated by five years" functions as a prepositional phrase, often modifying a noun or clause to specify a time interval or distance. As Ludwig confirms, it's grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "separated by five years" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to specify a time interval between two events or entities. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness. It's most commonly found in scientific and news contexts. To enhance clarity, always specify what is being separated. Alternatives include "five years apart" or "with a five-year gap". While versatile, it's important to use it precisely to avoid ambiguity and ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

five years apart

Focuses on the distance in time, emphasizing the gap between two points.

with a five-year interval

Highlights the regular spacing or recurrence of events.

a five-year gap

Emphasizes the emptiness or lack of activity during the period.

at five-year intervals

Indicates that events occur repeatedly with a fixed time period between them.

five years hence

Refers to a point in the future, specifically five years from now.

five years removed

Suggests a more distant or disconnected relationship in time.

a five-year distance

Emphasizes the measurable span between two points in time.

after a five-year period

Focuses on the conclusion of a defined duration.

spanning five years

Emphasizes the continuous nature of the duration.

a quinquennium later

Uses a more formal term (quinquennium) for a five-year period.

FAQs

How can I use "separated by five years" in a sentence?

You can use "separated by five years" to indicate a time interval between two events, like "The two surveys were "separated by five years"".

What's a simple alternative to "separated by five years"?

A simpler way to express the same idea is to say "five years apart". For example: "The events were five years apart".

Is it correct to say "with a five-year gap" instead of "separated by five years"?

Yes, "with a five-year gap" is a grammatically correct alternative and conveys a similar meaning, emphasizing the interval between the two occurrences.

How does "separated by five years" differ from "at five-year intervals"?

"Separated by five years" indicates a single instance of separation, while "at five-year intervals" suggests recurring events every five years.