the decennial

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the decennial" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to something that occurs every ten years, often in the context of events, reports, or surveys. Example: "The decennial census provides vital data for understanding population trends and demographics."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

First, the decennial census counts residents, not citizens.

The Economist

THE decennial process of Congressional redistricting is fundamental to a functioning democracy.

The New York Times

This cannot be proved now; data on concentrated poverty are provided only by the decennial census.

The New York Times

Historically, the closer the decennial count gets, the more political interference it attracts.

The New York Times

An unwillingness to deal with a new district reshaped following the decennial census.

The New York Times

The decennial census is about a lot more than counting heads.

The New York Times

LAST April Chile's president, Sebastián Piñera, unveiled the findings of the decennial census.

The Economist

His office had just issued the decennial tally showing that there were about 281 million people in the country.

The New York Times

Or are there other explanations for what appears to be public apathy toward the decennial head count?

The New York Times

Every ten years, following the decennial census mandated by the United States Constitution, state governments redraw legislative and congressional districts.

The New Yorker

The bureau's activities — and hence, its budget — always ramp up significantly in the years preceding the decennial count.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer "the decennial" in formal writing and reports, as it provides a concise way to reference a ten-year interval, particularly in discussions of census data or long-term trends.

Common error

Avoid using "the decennial" loosely to describe any event that happens frequently. The term specifically refers to occurrences that are repeated every ten years. Using it inaccurately diminishes the clarity of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the decennial" functions primarily as an adjective phrase modifying a noun, typically referring to events or processes that occur every ten years. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable phrase, commonly seen modifying terms like "census".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the decennial" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase, particularly in formal contexts such as news, science, and encyclopedias. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a well-established way to refer to events or processes occurring every ten years, most notably in relation to the census. While alternatives like "every ten years" exist, "the decennial" provides a concise and professional option for specifying this timeframe. When using this phrase, ensure the context is clear and that the ten-year interval is well-defined to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

every ten years

Replaces the adjective "decennial" with a direct description of the time interval.

the ten-year period

Uses a more descriptive noun phrase to convey the same concept.

occurring every decade

Substitutes "decennial" with a phrase using "decade" for similar meaning.

the once-a-decade event

Emphasizes the infrequency of the event, maintaining the ten-year interval.

a ten-yearly occurrence

Replaces "decennial" with a compound adjective to indicate frequency.

the tenth anniversary

Highlights the anniversary aspect of an event happening every ten years.

happening every tenth year

Breaks down "decennial" into its core components for clarity.

the every-decade cycle

Focuses on the cyclical nature of events repeated every decade.

the decade-based process

Shifts the emphasis to the fact that the process is based on a decade.

ten years from now

Points to the future timeframe instead of the periodic nature of the QUERY.

FAQs

How is "the decennial" used in a sentence?

Use "the decennial" to describe something that happens every ten years. For example, "The "decennial census" is crucial for understanding population shifts."

What are some alternatives to using "the decennial"?

You can use alternatives such as "every ten years" or "the ten-year period" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a decennial" instead of "the decennial"?

While "a decennial" can be grammatically correct, "the decennial" is often preferred when referring to a specific, well-known event like "the decennial census". "A decennial" is more appropriate when referring to one of multiple possible ten-year periods.

How does "the decennial census" impact government policies?

"The decennial census" data informs redistricting, allocation of federal funds, and various social and economic policies. It provides a comprehensive snapshot of the nation's population every ten years.