"for the past decade" vs "for the recent years"

Question

"for the past decade" vs "for the recent years"

The phrase 'for the past decade' is correct and commonly used to refer to the last ten years. On the other hand, 'for the recent years' is not a common phrase in English. It is more appropriate to use 'in recent years' to indicate a period close to the present.

Last Updated: March 21, 2024

This phrase is used to indicate a period of ten years leading up to the present time.

Examples:

For the past decade, technological advancements have transformed the way we live.
I have been living in this city for the past decade.

Alternatives:

over the last ten years
during the past ten years
in the last decade
for the last ten years
throughout the past decade

It is better to use 'in recent years' to refer to a period close to the present.

Alternatives:

in recent years
over the past few years
during the recent years
in the last few years
over the last couple of years

Answer 1

for the past decade

This phrase is correct and commonly used to refer to the last ten years.

Answer 2

for the recent years

This phrase is not commonly used in English. It is more appropriate to use 'in recent years' to indicate a period close to the present.

"for the past decade" vs "for the recent years"

for the past decade

for the recent years

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