compared to previous years vs compared to the previous years

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Compared to previous years' is used when making a general comparison to all previous years as a whole. 'Compared to the previous years' is used when referring to specific previous years that have been mentioned or are known in the context.

Last updated: March 26, 2024 • 2013 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"compared to previous years"

This phrase is used when making a general comparison to all previous years as a whole.

Examples:

The sales this year have increased compared to previous years.
The weather this summer is cooler compared to previous years.
The company's profits are higher compared to previous years.

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Recently, there has been some improvement in the situation in Belarus compared to previous years.
It is expected that the declaration procedure will not substantially change compared to previous years.
Furthermore, the investigation did not show that the Community industry increased its export sales in 1998 or even in 1999 compared to previous years.
The following table shows the position compared to previous years:
There is not much of a report on progress in country situations compared to previous years .
That resulted in a sharp decline in capacity utilisation in the IP, compared to previous years.
For the reasons presented above, payment appropriations will certainly require a significant increase as compared to previous years.
The progress of partner countries shall be regularly assessed, in particular by means of ENP progress reports which include trends as compared to previous years.
The content of the document submitted by the Commission, too, has undergone a significant change compared to previous years, and it points in the right direction.
The consumption of the product concerned in the Union has decreased by 11 % in the RIP compared to previous years.
The figures for 2006 record that the Ombudsman received 3830 complaints, 2% fewer than in 2005, but at the same record level attained in 2004, which represented a 53% increase compared to previous years.
Mr President, within the EU in 2008 the EIB reacted swiftly and accurately to the financial crisis by increasing its capital and almost doubling investments and disbursements compared to previous years, and in particular towards SMEs.
In addition, the capacity utilisation rate of the sampled Union producers went down compared to previous years but was still at the level of 65 % in the IP.
Following a new European Commission policy requiring extensive justification for any multiple applications, the number of such applications fell compared to previous years.
In particular, the annual increase in spending in the health-care sector was drastically reduced compared to previous years as the measures decided as part of the 2004 health-care reform are bearing fruit,
There has certainly been some progress on those two counts this year, compared to previous years.
It also has to include a complete task list giving a clear indication which tasks have been added compared to previous years.
notes, however, that in 2011, there was a higher demand for translation from external translators compared to previous years;
Is pleased to note the significant reduction in carryovers achieved by the Centre in 2004 compared to previous years, allowing the budget implemented by the Centre to reflect more closely the budget approved by the budgetary authority;
The figures for 2006 record that the Ombudsman received 3830 complaints, 2% fewer than in 2005, but at the same record level attained in 2004, which represented a 53% increase compared to previous years.

Alternatives:

compared to past years
compared to previous periods
compared to earlier years
compared to historical data
compared to the past

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"compared to the previous years"

This phrase is used when referring to specific previous years that have been mentioned or are known in the context.

Examples:

The sales this year are higher compared to the previous years of 2018 and 2019.
The company's performance has declined compared to the previous years of growth.
The quality of the product has improved compared to the previous years of production.

Alternatives:

compared to those previous years
compared to the years before
compared to the years that passed
compared to the earlier years
compared to the years that came before

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compared to previous years vs compared to the previous years