years found that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "years found that" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It seems to be an incomplete thought and lacks context, making it difficult to determine its intended use. Example: "In recent years found that the data supports the hypothesis."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Yet a series of reviews in recent years found that the testing operation is mired in bureaucracy and poorly coordinated.

The New York Times

A series of investigations over many years found that the minerals service was among the most troubled agencies in government.

The New York Times

Similarly, studies conducted in French and Canadian elementary schools over a period of four years found that regular physical activity had positive effects on academic performance.

University of California, Berkeley

The study, which looked at children ages 6 months to 3 years, found that sleep problems were common in this age group.

Stanford University

One study in the US of bisphosphonate users who were followed for two years, found that only 43% took the full course prescribed to them.

The Guardian

Brady, who has presided over several aspects of Woodfox's case for many years, found that the ends of justice demanded an end to Woodfox's ordeal.

The New Yorker

However, a recent meta-analysis of 112 studies conducted over the past 30 years found that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) was the single most successful type of treatment.

The Guardian

In fact, Judith Wallerstein, who has studied children of divorce for 25 years, found that divorce opens up whole new realms of conflict between parents.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Random audits by the Buildings Department in the last two years found that dozens of those routine inspections were faulty.

The New York Times

Several investigations by the Guardian over the past two years found that Thai and migrant slaves are being used on trawlers catching seafood in Thailand.

The Guardian

A Guardian Australia analysis of the profiles of all 128 parliamentarians who will represent Victoria for the next four years found that the group is not particularly representative.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about research findings, ensure the sentence structure clearly indicates the subject of the study, the time frame, and the results. Avoid using the ambiguous phrase "years found that". Instead, specify what entity (studies, research, analysis) performed the finding.

Common error

Avoid using phrases like "years found that" without a clear subject performing the action. For instance, instead of "Years of research found that…", specify who conducted the research: "Researchers found that…" or "Studies over several years found that…".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "years found that" functions as an incomplete clause that introduces a study's findings. While frequently used as seen in Ludwig, it lacks grammatical correctness because it does not clearly specify what entity made the finding.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

29%

Science

21%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "years found that" is a common, yet grammatically unsound, construction used to introduce research findings. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it appears frequently across various sources, especially in news and media. However, it is not considered grammatically correct due to its incomplete sentence structure. It's more effective to use clearer alternatives like "studies have shown", "research indicated", or "analysts revealed". While prevalent, especially in news and media, substituting "years found that" with more grammatically robust phrasing can improve the clarity and credibility of your writing. By specifying who or what performed the finding (e.g., "researchers", "studies", "data analysis"), you enhance precision and professionalism.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

studies over the years have shown

Rephrases the original structure to emphasize the cumulative nature of findings over time, using "have shown" instead of "found that".

research conducted over several years indicated

Replaces "found that" with "indicated", providing a slightly more formal tone and emphasizing the research process.

longitudinal studies revealed

Highlights the longitudinal nature of the studies, indicating a long-term observation, and uses "revealed" as a substitute for "found that".

past investigations have demonstrated

Uses "investigations" instead of "studies" and "demonstrated" in place of "found that", altering the formality and emphasizing proof.

historical data analysis uncovered

Shifts the focus to data analysis and uses "uncovered" to suggest a discovery process.

evidence accumulated across the years suggests

Emphasizes the accumulation of evidence over time and uses "suggests" for a more tentative conclusion.

earlier surveys established

Specifies "surveys" as the method and "established" as the finding, indicating a confirmed result.

analyses spanning multiple years determined

Focuses on the analytical aspect and employs "determined" to suggest a definitive conclusion.

previous decades have proven

Uses a time-based opening to indicate a longer observational period and replaces "found that" with "have proven".

retrospective studies have highlighted

Highlights the retrospective nature of the studies and uses "highlighted" as a softer alternative to "found that".

FAQs

How can I rephrase "years found that" to improve clarity?

To enhance clarity, replace "years found that" with more specific phrases like "studies have shown", "research indicated", or "analysis revealed" depending on the context.

Is "years found that" grammatically correct in academic writing?

No, "years found that" is generally considered grammatically weak. It's better to use a complete sentence structure that clearly identifies the subject and action, such as "Researchers found that" or "Data analysis revealed".

What are some common alternatives to "years found that" in news articles?

In news articles, consider using phrases like "investigations revealed", "reports indicated", or "experts determined" to convey findings in a more professional tone.

How does using "years found that" impact the readability of my writing?

Using "years found that" can make your writing seem less clear and professional. Opting for more precise and structured phrases improves readability and reinforces the credibility of your findings.