this many years

USAGE SUMMARY

"this many years" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to a period of time, especially when you don't want to specify how long the period of time is. For example, you could say "I've been living here for this many years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

I pounced on this many years ago.

Princeton University

That got me paying attention to this many years ago.

Yale University

I've lived on this corner for this many years.

The New York Times

74 Bernie Sanders is this many years young 👶.

The Guardian

This many years later, I've gone through losing a parent.

The New York Times

This many years after her death, he was still using his wife's Dove soap.

The New Yorker

Texas, my home state, realized this many years ago and acted.

The Guardian - Opinion

That's how you can nail it down after this many years," Tumulty said.

The Guardian

But what would I be like if I'd stayed in there for this many years?

The Guardian

He added: "I'm just thankful that I spent this many years in Philadelphia.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

This took many years.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the tone and context; while versatile, this phrase may sound less formal than specifying a precise number. If precision is key, provide the exact duration.

Common error

Avoid using "this many years" when you know the exact number of years. It's better to state the precise duration to maintain clarity and avoid vagueness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this many years" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun and indicating a quantity or duration of time. It serves to quantify the noun it modifies, as shown by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

25%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "this many years" is a versatile phrase used to indicate an unspecified period of time. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use across diverse contexts such as news, media, and academic writing. While it offers a general way to refer to duration, more specific language may be appropriate in formal or scientific contexts. Remember to consider the desired level of precision and tone when incorporating "this many years" into your writing. "This many years" serves as a flexible alternative when precise details of the time frame are unknown or irrelevant.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

so many years

Emphasizes the quantity of years without specifying the exact number, similar to the original phrase.

a number of years

Expresses an unspecified quantity of years, maintaining a neutral tone.

several years

Indicates more than two years but does not specify an exact number.

quite a few years

Indicates a duration longer than expected, adding a subtle emphasis.

for years

Simplifies the phrase to a shorter, more common expression of a prolonged time.

such a long time

Replaces "this many years" with a more general expression of a considerable duration.

a good few years

Adds a sense of familiarity and informality, emphasizing a substantial period.

in all these years

Emphasizes the entire duration from a past point to the present.

a considerable period

Uses a more formal tone to indicate a noteworthy duration.

over the years

Highlights the accumulation of time and experiences throughout a duration.

FAQs

How can I use "this many years" in a sentence?

You can use "this many years" to refer to an unspecified number of years, like in the sentence, "I've been working at this company for "this many years"".

What is a more formal alternative to "this many years"?

For a more formal tone, you could use phrases like "a number of years" or "a considerable period" instead of "this many years".

Is it correct to use "this many years" in academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "this many years" might be too informal for some academic contexts. Consider using more precise language unless the exact duration is irrelevant.

What's the difference between "so many years" and "this many years"?

"So many years" emphasizes the large quantity of years, while "this many years" is more neutral and simply refers to an unspecified duration.