three years running

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "three years running" is correct and is used in written English.
It is used to emphasize that something has been happening or occurring consecutively for a certain amount of time. For example: My company has been winning awards for excellence in customer service three years running.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Kobe Bryant has played deep into June three years running.

The New York Times - Sports

Vicente Fox Quesada spent three years running for president.

The New York Times

survey for customer satisfaction in energy provision three years running.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Alan Desmarais, president of the student council three years running.

The New Yorker

He won the Canadian national badminton championship three years running.

The New York Times

For three years running, the House has passed a bill to close the loophole.

The New York Times

After leaving La Moneda, she spent three years running the UN's organisation for women.

The Economist

Mr. Scutt spent three years running Mr. Rudolph's office in New Haven.

The New York Times - Arts

Talley has been ringmaster of this sartorial circus for three years running.

The New York Times

We've talked about finishing second three years running and we don't want that feeling again.

The Guardian - Sport

James Acaster For three years running, James Acaster has been shortlisted for the Edinburgh comedy awards.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "three years running" to emphasize the repetitive nature of an event or achievement, particularly when highlighting a consistent trend or performance.

Common error

Avoid using "three years running" when the event or situation was not consecutive. Ensure the years are unbroken and follow each other directly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "three years running" functions as an adjectival modifier, specifically describing the duration and consecutive nature of an event or activity. Ludwig confirms the validity of this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "three years running" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to indicate that something has occurred consecutively for three years. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions as an adjectival modifier, emphasizing the repetition and continuity of an event. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts. To avoid errors, ensure that the years are indeed consecutive. Alternatives include "three consecutive years" or "for the past three years". Top sources using this phrase include The New York Times, The Guardian and The Economist.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

three consecutive years

Replaces "running" with "consecutive" to emphasize the uninterrupted sequence of years.

for three years consecutively

Explicitly states the consecutive nature of the three-year period.

for the past three years

Focuses on the time frame leading up to the present, highlighting recent continuity.

three years in a row

Uses a more informal expression to denote consecutive occurrence.

three straight years

Emphasizes the unbroken nature of the sequence.

for three straight years

Similar to "three straight years", emphasizing the unbroken nature.

over a three-year period

Specifies the duration and implies continuity within that period.

in three successive years

Formal alternative, highlighting the sequence of years.

each of the last three years

Highlights the individual years within the three-year span.

annually for three years

Focuses on the yearly recurrence of an event.

FAQs

How can I use "three years running" in a sentence?

You can use "three years running" to indicate that something has happened consecutively for three years, such as "The company has increased its profits "three years running"".

What does "three years running" mean?

"Three years running" means that something has occurred in each of the past three consecutive years without interruption.

What are some alternatives to "three years running"?

Alternatives include "for the past three years", "three consecutive years", or "three years in a row".

Is it better to say "three years running" or "for three years"?

Both are correct, but ""three years running"" emphasizes the consecutive nature of the event, while "for three years" simply indicates the duration.