twenty-five years

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "twenty-five years" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a duration of time, often in contexts such as age, experience, or the length of an event or relationship. Example: "After twenty-five years of dedicated service, she decided to retire from her job."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Noel, twenty-five years before.

The New Yorker

"Only twenty-five yeago ago.

The New Yorker

You'll be twenty-five years old".

The New Yorker

LeCompte spent twenty-five years with Dafoe.

The New Yorker

Twenty-five yeago ago, I was nothing.

The New York Times - Food

It's been more than twenty-five years.

The New Yorker

Manning is twenty-five years old now.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

"Fourteen years.

The New York Times

Fifteen years four months.

The New Yorker

Carr: Six years, seven years beyond that?

The Guardian

That will take four years, eight years.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about durations, be specific with dates or events to contextualize the "twenty-five years" period. For example, instead of saying "Changes happened over twenty-five years", specify "Since the 2000s, significant technological advancements have occurred."

Common error

Avoid assuming a "twenty-five years" automatically equates to a generation in demographic or social contexts. A generation's length can vary, and using it interchangeably might lead to inaccuracies.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "twenty-five years" primarily functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun related to time. Ludwig examples show it specifying a duration, age, or period. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Science

13%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "twenty-five years" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase primarily serving to specify duration or time spans. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's perfectly acceptable in English writing. Predominantly found in news and media, this phrase functions neutrally and is best used with contextual details for clarity. Remember, while similar to "a generation", they aren't always interchangeable. Alternative phrases include "a quarter of a century" or simply "25 years", depending on the level of formality required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

25 years

A more concise numerical representation of the same time period.

a quarter of a century

Uses a more formal and concise way to represent the same duration.

approximately 25 years

Introduces a degree of imprecision or estimation to the duration.

two and a half decades

Breaks down the time period into decades for emphasis or variation.

a period of 25 years

Emphasizes the duration as a specific time span.

a span of 25 years

Stresses the concept of a measured interval of time.

in the past 25 years

Highlights events or changes that have occurred within the specified timeframe.

the last 25 years

Specifies a duration starting from a point in the past until the present.

over two decades

Indicates a duration exceeding twenty years, approximating twenty-five.

a generation

Refers to the approximate time between the birth of parents and their children, close to but not always exactly 25 years.

FAQs

How can I use "twenty-five years" in a sentence?

You can use "twenty-five years" to describe the duration of an event, a person's age, or a period of time that has passed. For instance, "He worked at the company for "twenty-five years"" or "The law has not been updated in "twenty-five years"".

What are some alternatives to saying "twenty-five years"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "a quarter of a century", "two and a half decades", or simply "25 years".

Is it more appropriate to use "twenty-five years" or "25 years" in formal writing?

In formal writing, it is generally preferred to spell out numbers below one hundred. Therefore, ""twenty-five years"" is more appropriate than "25 years" in formal contexts. However, "25 years" is perfectly acceptable in less formal writing.

How does "twenty-five years" compare to "a generation" as a measure of time?

While ""twenty-five years"" is a precise duration, "a generation" is a more approximate term, typically referring to the average time between the birth of parents and their children, which is often around 20-30 years. Therefore, they are not always interchangeable.