[Grammar] in several years vs. over several years

Dear teacher,

1 According to information I collected in several years, this kind of knowledge is not as useful as expected.
2 According to information I collected over several years, this kind of knowledge is not as useful as expected.

Both are created by me. Now could you tell me which one works for you and explain further why? Thanks in advance.

LQZ

LQZ said:

Dear teacher,

1 According to information I collected in several years, this kind of knowledge is not as useful as expected.
2 According to information I collected over several years, this kind of knowledge is not as useful as expected.

Both are created by me. Now could you tell me which one works for you and explain further why? Thanks in advance.

LQZ

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You collect something
for several years or over several years, not in several years

'In several years' means several years to come

tedtmc said:

You collect something
for several years or over several years, not in several years

'In several years' means several years to come

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Sorry, tedtmc, I humbly don't agree with you.

To me, both "in several years" and "over several years" tell the reader past time and "in several years" may be a better choice. But I am not wholly srue myself. That is why I post this thread.

LQZ said:

To me, both "in several years" and "over several years" tell the reader past time and "in several years" may be a better choice. But I am not wholly sure myself. That is why I post this thread.

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LQZ, what do your mean by underlined phrase?

tedtmc said:

LQZ, what do your mean by underlined phrase?

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the reader --> somebody who read what you wrote
past time ---> previous time

Make sense now?

tedtmc is right, "in" is incorrect.

bhaisahab said:

tedtmc is right, "in" is incorrect.

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:-oWhy? Could you explain further? I am still confused.

LQZ said:

the reader --> somebody who read what you wrote
past time ---> previous time

Make sense now?

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No, 'tell the reader past time or previous time' does not make sense.

There is no such phrase as 'past time'.
You can say 'the previous time' but not 'previous time'.

tedtmc said:

No, 'tell the reader past time or previous time' does not make sense.

There is no such phrase as 'past time'.
You can say 'the previous time' but not 'previous time'.

Click to expand...

Thanks tedtmc. I've got it.