If I want to say the first three months of the year in one word, I would say "the first quarter".
Which word should I use to refer to a period of four months?
Learn English – How to say “a period of four months” in one word
timeword-request
Related Solutions
Not one word, but this phrase is more natural than saying nearly never.:
- Almost never
One word:
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Scarcely (used to qualify a statement by saying that it is true to an insignificant degree). Also used as hardly ever.
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Only just; almost not:
Usage graph specific to your context:
I would prefer your original "first three quarters of 2014" as it is unambiguous. However, these alternatives may be acceptable:
ZZZ sales up 20% in Q1-Q3 2014
ZZZ sales up 20% in 2014, quarters 1-3
Best Answer
It isn't common to speak of a four-month period, at least in the United States where I live. Thus, although others have suggested words for this, my recommendation is to not use them. Very few people would use such a word in English; the more natural way is to speak of a four-month period or some variation on that expression.
For example:
Sales were down during the four-month period ending (or beginning) in April.