for years vs In years

Both 'for years' and 'in years' are correct phrases, but they are used in different contexts. 'For years' is used to indicate a duration or period of time that has passed, while 'in years' is used to indicate a specific point in the future.

Last updated: April 07, 2024 • 583 views

for years

The phrase 'for years' is correct and commonly used in English to indicate a duration or period of time that has passed.

You can use 'for years' to talk about something that has been happening or existed for a long time.

Examples:

I have been studying English for years.
They have been friends for years.
She has lived in that house for years.

Show examples from the web [+]

Dry for years, never missed a meeting.
We performed that song for years.
I've known you for years.
The number of expulsion decisions is progressing for years.
What kids have done for years.
Parkinson's can be controlled for years.
That psycho terrorized LA for years.
I lived with you for years.
Our fathers worked together for years.
Our companies have funded your operation for years.
Carolyn essentially severed all contact with me for years.
Just payback for years of bad behavior.
Their ruler, Kaumuali'i, resisted Kamehameha for years.
But these doctors study and assist for years.
Scorpion has been steadily increasing its production for years.
Junior's been collecting his benefits for years.
Gentlemen, for years the aristocracy ran this country.
The components resist corrosion, maintaining their look for years.
Traction has been applied by orthopedic specialists effectively for years.
Several artisans in Hanoi kept collecting propaganda posters for years.

Alternatives:

for a long time
for many years
for a number of years
for a considerable period

In years

The phrase 'in years' is correct and commonly used in English to indicate a specific point in the future.

You can use 'in years' to refer to a future time frame or a specific point in the future.

Examples:

I hope to travel the world in years to come.
In years, we will look back on this moment.
She plans to retire in years.

Show examples from the web [+]

In years it is engaged in the car sector with a karting school composed of 80 drivers and the motorcycle sector with 200 drivers.
Now, I haven't spoken to Pemberton or Dodds in years.
The truth is, I haven't written anything in years.
In years 1973-1988 - director of Kharkiv opera.
In years 2007 to 2009 the Commission shall pay EIB the annual amounts as scheduled above.
In years past, Lance had never won Ventoux.
In years past, attacks of 10 Gbps were relatively rare.
In years there after the industry received a commission from the Munich Court to make painted porcelain.
In years past, this was a day of remembrance for those slain in the massacre at Brennidon.
In years past the City of San Vito lo Capo had organized and sponsored Carnivals for residents and tourists.
In years 2007/8 and 9 it has quite exceeded the port of Venice for absolute number of passengers.
In years when there was a shortage of food, the great auks did not breed.
In years past, the evil high priest Maox ordered King Zed's unborn child withdrawn from its mother's womb and transplanted inside a beast of burden.
In years of bad catches, the merchant would give their customers sufficient supplies to manage through hard times.
In years past, he's lost under some unusual circumstances such as mechanical failure.
In years past if you were a mature women dating you would have very limited options.
In years past, some of our most influential business leader have said... that the most important principles of a partnership, are honesty and integrity.
In years '70 - it has remembered - we were to the first place for international tourism and now we are fifth; in the logistics Italy, eighth world-wide economy, is alone ventiquattresima.
In years past, many vessels docked in the river at the ends of their last voyages were abandoned and sank alongside the docks, creating eyesores and hazards to navigation.
In years past, there are great and the music of Italian opera in general: Galliano Masini, Mario Del Monaco, Gino Bechi, Forzano Giovacchino and Iris Adami Corradetti.

Alternatives:

in the future
in the coming years
in the years ahead
down the road

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