"exactly a year" vs "an exact year"

Question

"exactly a year" vs "an exact year"

Both phrases are correct, but they have different meanings and usage. 'An exact year' refers to a specific year without any approximation, while 'exactly a year' means precisely a year, indicating a duration of time. They are not directly comparable as they serve different purposes.

Last Updated: March 20, 2024

This phrase is used when referring to a period of time that is precisely one year, without any deviation or approximation.

Examples:

It has been exactly a year since we last met.
The project will take exactly a year to complete.

This phrase is used when referring to a particular year with precision, without any margin of error or approximation.

Examples:

I was born in 1990, an exact year for the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The event took place in 1969, an exact year in history.

Answer 1

exactly a year

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate a precise duration of time, specifically one year.

Answer 2

an exact year

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to refer to a specific year without any approximation.

"exactly a year" vs "an exact year"

exactly a year

an exact year

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