Is there a difference of meaning in the following sentences.
1. The rate has increased IN the past 4 years.
2. The rate has increased OVER the past 4 years.
Thanks,
tedphy
I feel a slight difference with "over" -- it could imply that the increase has been gradual, perhaps in stages. With the "in" version it simply tells you that it's more now than four years ago. However, it could also be that the writer intended no difference at all.
Hi,
So you intent to say that with "The rate has increased in the past 4 years", the rate increased towards the end of that 4 years and not a gradual increase from the begining of that 4 years?
Regards,
Anish
(Not a teacher - Correct me if I am wrong)
No, there's no implication about that at all.
It simply means that four years ago, I know it was X and now I know it's Y. I don't know if it went up a tiny bit in each of the four years, if it only went up one time last week, or if it went up only once, three and half years ago, and has been steady since then.
However, if you said "over the past four years" I might thing it was a little higher three years ago, a little higher than than two years ago, a bit higher yet last year, and now it's at its current rate.