During those years vs During the years

Both "during those years" and "during the years" are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. "During those years" is used when referring to previously mentioned years or a specific period of years, while "during the years" is more general and does not have a specific emphasis.

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Last updated: March 25, 2025 • 4858 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English when referring to specific, previously mentioned years or a specific period of time.

"During those years"

Use "during those years" when you want to refer to a specific set of years that have been mentioned or are known in the context.

Examples:

During those years, she traveled extensively around Europe.
I learned a lot during those years in college.
He was very active in politics during those years.
The company experienced significant growth during those years.
During those years of hardship, they stuck together as a family.

Show examples from the web [+]

During those years the fishermen in that area did not receive any compensation for not being allowed to fish during that period.
We all sustained damage em, during those years.
During those years, particularly after the historic enlargement of 2004, the context and the ambitions of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) changed greatly.
What it was like for me during those years?
Our good cousin Johann Elias Bach lived with us during those years.
Was it only a security system that was added during those years, or was it also the wiring for a long-awaited plan?
Many Chinese regions saw a sharp decline of birthrate during those years.
Doing restoration work had a really positive impact on keeping The Magic Shop going during those years where people didn't play as much.
This is because the 15% increase is nominal and not real, granted that average yearly inflation in the Community during those years was approximately 2%.
Were we to be able to intervene during those years of life, we might attenuate for some, and God knows, maybe even prevent for others.
We were totally dependent during those years on this amazing acronym, which is MAD.
So I never wanted I know during those years... see my best friend dead and then what?
The inquiries were made more difficult by the reticence and lack of cooperation shown by some countries, including countries which are Members of the European Union as well as the very Alliance which guaranteed security in Europe during those years.
In its comments in the context of the formal investigation procedure, the Greek authorities argued that Larco was not a firm in difficulty during the years 2008 and 2009, because the registered losses were due to the decrease of the global price of ferronickel during those years.
The memory of these names will, I believe, prompt all of us to condemn what took place during those years in Chile.
There was an underground railroad of sorts that was going on during those years.
As initiative-taker during those years the European Union played a dominant role in the Stability Pact and was, together with its Member States, the biggest donor.
In his memoirs, "Long Road to Freedom," he wrote that he survived during those years of captivity because he always decided to look upon his oppressor as also being a human being, also being a human being.
So I pulled all of Flynn's convictions during those years.
But I sowed many seeds during those years in the classroom.

Alternatives:

during that time
during that period
during that era
during that decade
during that specific time frame

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English when referring to years in a more general sense without specific emphasis on particular years.

"During the years"

Use "during the years" when you want to refer to a period of time that includes multiple years without specifying them individually.

Examples:

During the years of his presidency, many changes were implemented.
She worked hard during the years she spent in that company.
During the years of the war, the country faced many challenges.
The team achieved great success during the years they were coached by him.
During the years of economic growth, many new businesses were established.

Show examples from the web [+]

Please tell me, what sentence is gramatically correct? During the years of 2011-2013, soil samples were collected from various locations in ...

Alternatives:

over the years
throughout the years
across the years
in the years
through the years

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During those years vs During the years

"During those years"

"During the years"

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