years in question

USAGE SUMMARY

'years in question' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to refer to a period or periods of time that something is being discussed about or questioned. For example, you could say, "We are still uncertain about the economic trends of the years in question."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

The years in question?

The Guardian - Books

HP's filing also rounds on Deloitte, whose Cambridge office signed off Autonomy's accounts during the years in question.

The Guardian - Business

The challenge, and the fun, comes from limiting the field of play to the ten years in question.

The New Yorker

And if they did, the juice doesn't seem to have done much good in the years in question.

The New York Times

"Indeed, I spent more nights in London than in Redditch for three of the four years in question.

The Guardian

The plea agreement stated the amount Galea charged his patients in the United States during the more than two years in question was about $800,000.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

Yet the year in question was 1863, not 1859.

The New York Times

Their incompetence was made more problematical because the overall quality of the fiction in the year in question was poor.

The Guardian - Books

Field studies have found that 17% of people taking part in micro-loan programmes were receiving welfare at the start of the year in question.

The Economist

Rakoff doesn't read a scrap of his work until the last quarter of the year in question, even as she chats to him on the phone.

Independent

The paper publishes an annual list of the best restaurants, spas and other attractions, which it publishes on the Web using bestofphoenix and the year in question.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "years in question", ensure the specific years have already been clearly defined or are immediately apparent to the reader. This avoids ambiguity and provides necessary context.

Common error

Avoid using "years in question" without clearly establishing which years you're referring to. Without context, the phrase becomes meaningless. Ensure the timeframe is explicitly stated or easily inferred from the surrounding text.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "years in question" functions as a post-modifier, specifying which "years" are being referred to. Ludwig examples confirm this usage across different contexts, indicating its role in providing clarity and focus within a discussion or analysis.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "years in question" is a commonly used and grammatically correct way to refer to a specific period that has already been established within a discussion or analysis. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves to provide clarity and specificity, and its versatility allows it to be used in a variety of contexts, including news, science, and formal business settings. To ensure effective communication, make sure to define the relevant timeframe before using the phrase. Top sources include The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Economist. Alternative phrasing includes "relevant years" or "pertinent years". Remember to avoid vagueness and provide a clear reference for the "years in question" to maintain clarity in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

relevant years

Focuses on the relevance of the years being discussed.

pertinent years

Highlights the pertinence or direct relation of the years to the subject.

specified years

Emphasizes that the years have been clearly defined or indicated.

aforementioned years

Refers back to years previously mentioned, indicating a formal tone.

years under consideration

Highlights that the years are being actively thought about or analyzed.

years at issue

Indicates that the years are central to a problem or dispute.

years under discussion

Emphasizes that the years are currently being talked about.

the period in question

Shifts focus to the period instead of specifically the years but retains the same meaning.

applicable years

Indicates that the years are appropriate or suitable for a particular situation.

relevant timeframe

Replaces "years" with a more general term, maintaining the relevance aspect.

FAQs

How can I use "years in question" in a sentence?

You can use "years in question" to refer to a specific period of time that is being discussed or analyzed. For example: "The data from the "years in question" shows a significant increase in unemployment."

What phrases are similar to "years in question"?

Similar phrases include "relevant years", "pertinent years", or "years under consideration", all of which refer to a specific timeframe under scrutiny.

When is it appropriate to use "years in question"?

It is appropriate to use "years in question" when you have already established a specific timeframe and need to refer back to it without repeating the exact dates. It adds a level of formality and precision to your writing.

What's the difference between "years in question" and "years at issue"?

While both phrases refer to a specific period, "years in question" is more neutral, simply indicating a timeframe being discussed. "years at issue" implies that the years are central to a problem, dispute, or legal matter.