two years running

USAGE SUMMARY

"two years running" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something has occurred for a consecutive two-year period, usually as an accomplishment of some sort. For example, "Billy has made a perfect score on the math test for two years running."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Suddenly I've been drawn two years running.

The Guardian - Opinion

Two years running, he was Chelsea's player of the year.

The Guardian - Sport

Eight schools have gotten D's two years running.

The New York Times

We have just seen it done two years running.

The Guardian - Sport

Two years running, we couldn't get him into the truck to go to market.

The New Yorker

More broadly, the Syrian conflict has now decimated Lebanon's tourist season two years running.

The New York Times - Arts

Two years running, Eastbury has been among the 100 most improved schools in the country.

Independent

Emmanuel Lubezki, both men's wizard behind the camera, has taken best cinematographer for two years running.

The Economist

His newsroom also won the title of team of the year two years running.

The Guardian

I was living in Rome for two years, running a little division of Telecom Italia.

The New York Times

Was it because Zaha has won the Stirling prize for two years running?

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "two years running", ensure the context clearly indicates what event or action is being repeated. Clarity avoids ambiguity and strengthens your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "two years running" when the events are not consecutive. This phrase specifically indicates events that have occurred in direct sequence without interruption.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "two years running" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the duration and consecutive nature of an action or state. It modifies verbs or entire clauses to indicate that something has occurred for two successive years, as demonstrated by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Sport

17%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "two years running" is an adverbial phrase indicating that something has occurred for two consecutive years. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used across diverse contexts, particularly in news, sports, and business. It emphasizes consistency and repetition, and its neutral register makes it widely applicable. To enhance clarity, ensure the context of what's been repeated is evident, and avoid using the phrase for non-consecutive events. Alternatives such as "for the past two years" or "in two consecutive years" can offer slight variations in emphasis. Being mindful of these best practices will ensure the correct and impactful use of this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for two years in a row

Adds emphasis to the repetition of the event.

for the past two years

Focuses on the duration leading up to the present.

over the last two years

Focuses on a period of time recently ended or still ongoing.

two straight years

Highlights the unbroken sequence of years.

in two consecutive years

Emphasizes the sequential nature of the years.

during the previous two years

Refers to a specific past period of two years.

in the two preceding years

More formal way to refer to the two years before a specific time.

for a two-year stretch

Highlights the continuous nature of the period.

two annual terms in succession

Formal and highlights the order.

across two annual cycles

Emphasizes the yearly recurrence.

FAQs

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

You can use "two years running" to indicate that something has happened for two consecutive years. For example, "The company has increased its profits for "two years running"."

What are some alternatives to "two years running"?

Some alternatives include "for the past two years", "in "two consecutive years"", or "for two years in a row".

Is it correct to say 'two running years' instead of "two years running"?

No, "two running years" is not a standard or idiomatic phrase. The correct and commonly used phrase is "two years running".

What does "two years running" imply about the events being described?

It implies that the events occurred in direct sequence, one year immediately following the other, highlighting the consistency or repetition.