this very year

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this very year" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to refer to the current year, and can be used to emphasize the nearness of the time being discussed. For example: "I have been working towards my goal of becoming a teacher for the past five years, and this very year I am finally starting my first job as a teacher!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Along this treacherous path, this very year, Bin Hammam's Asian confederation removed Chung Mong-joon of South Korea from the FIFA executive committee.

The New York Times - Sports

Let's wait to see what the new House majority does on its much-vaunted promise to immediately cut $100 billion — or up to 30 percent — of discretionary domestic spending this very year.

The New York Times

While the more obvious route to pursue would have been to place her "Mies Julie" in the age of apartheid, Ms. Farber has instead chosen to locate it in this very year of 2012.

The New York Times

"And so it happened that in this very year of joy for the sacrament of the priesthood, the sins of priests came to light — particularly the abuse of the little ones," the pope added.

The New York Times

The King keeps revising his sumptuary laws — first in 1510, then 1514, then 1515, and finally this very year — and you just cannot remember whether velvet of crimson, scarlet, or blue is O.K. for people of your rank or not.

The New Yorker

Like President Obama's father, who was Kenyan, their experience differs vastly from that of African-Americans whose ancestors were enslaved, yet they are subsumed into the same category — one that, until this very year, continued to include the outdated term "Negro".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

This in the very year when Gaza happened.

Huffington Post

While historically, such budget cut proposals have fallen on deaf ears, this may be the very year that Congress will get the message.

Huffington Post

Prompting us to look at what happened on THIS VERY DAY - but years ago -- we reminisce about hero-themed birthday parties, first steps and gap-toothed grins.

Huffington Post

Which brings me to this very exciting year.

The New York Times - Travel

ROWW would like to thank all of our supporters who have gotten us through this very difficult year," Cody added.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this very year" to emphasize the immediacy or relevance of an event or situation occurring in the current year. It adds a sense of urgency or importance to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "this very year" with other redundant time markers like "currently" or "at the present time". It can make your writing sound repetitive. Choose either "this very year" or the other time marker for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this very year" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause by specifying the time frame. According to Ludwig AI, it's suitable for emphasizing the current year.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "this very year" is a grammatically sound phrase used to highlight the current year, lending emphasis to the events occurring within it. It finds frequent application in journalistic and business contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable. When employing this phrase, ensure it aligns with the intended tone and context, avoiding redundancy with other temporal markers. Consider alternatives like "this year" or "the present year" based on the desired level of emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this current year

Replaces 'very' with 'current', offering a slightly less emphatic but equally precise alternative.

the present year

Uses 'present' instead of 'very', sounding slightly more formal while retaining the same meaning.

this year

Omits 'very', making the phrase less emphatic but still referring to the current year.

throughout this year

Implies continuous action or events occurring over the entire span of the current year.

the current 12 months

Broader, less direct reference; highlights ongoing timeframe rather than specific emphasis.

this selfsame year

Adds archaic and emphatic flavour with 'selfsame'.

in the course of this year

Emphasizes the duration and progression of events within the current year.

this particular year

Highlights a specific characteristic or focus on the current year.

during the ongoing year

Replaces 'very' to describe something in progress.

within this annual cycle

More formal and abstract, referring to the yearly cycle rather than a specific year.

FAQs

How can I use "this very year" in a sentence?

You can use "this very year" to emphasize something happening in the current year, for example, "This very year, the company plans to launch its new product line".

What's a less emphatic way to say "this very year"?

If you want to be less emphatic, you can simply use "this year". The addition of "very" emphasizes the present moment, but it's not always necessary.

Is "this very year" more formal than "this year"?

While both phrases are suitable for formal contexts, "this very year" can add slightly more emphasis, making it suitable when you want to highlight the immediacy or importance of something.

Can I use "this very year" to refer to the past?

No, "this very year" always refers to the current year. To refer to a specific past year, you should use the year number or phrases like "last year" or "that year".