It's (been) two years since I last saw Joe.

[Chicken Sandwich]

I just came across two interesting sentences in English Grammar in Use:

#1. It's two years since I last saw Joe.
#2. It's been two years since I last saw Joe.

According to Raymond Murphy, both mean the same (and both are correct).

However, #1 sounds unusual to me.

1. Could it be that #1 is less formal than #2 (and/or less common)?
2. Could it be that #1 is more common in BrE than in AmE? (English Grammar in Use is written for BrE. There is also a version of the book written for students of AmE, but unfortunately, I don't own it.)

Thank you in advance.

[emsr2d2]

For me, they are both correct, they mean the same thing and I see no difference in formality. For a (slightly more) formal version, I would start them with "It is/It has been", not the contractions.

[anhnha]

What is the reason for using the present simple tense in this sentence?
It's two years since I last saw Joe.
Is it because the statement is always true?

[emsr2d2]

What is the reason for using the present simple tense in this sentence?
It's two years since I last saw Joe.
Is it because the statement is always true?

It's not always true. If it is now two years since I last saw Joe and I don't see him for another year, then the statement "It's three years since I last saw Joe" will be true. However, at the time of speaking, it is absolutely presently true.

[anhnha]

Thank emsr2d2!
If so, can I use the present simple tense for everything that is absolutely presently true?

[emsr2d2]

Thank emsr2d2!
If so, can I use the present simple tense for everything that is absolutely presently true?

I am always loth to say that you can "always" do something or use any particular construction for "everything" as there are plenty of exceptions to every rule.

In fact, here's one: "The sun is shining" is presently true (OK, that's a lie, it's really cloudy where I am at the moment but never mind!). However, we don't say "The sun shines" in that context, we only use the present continuous.

So I will say no to your question.