How many years in this context relating to the word "relative to"?

Question

Today, when discussing this topic, I saw a comment

By "7 years surrounding the event" they mean the effects in the 2 years before and the 5 years after the event date. The periods are "relative to" the first adoption year.

I am wondering whether the commenter said that "7 years surrounding the event" is 8 years, including two years before, 5 years after, and the event year?

Surely, it would only mean 8 years if the 'event' referred to lasted for a whole year? Otherwise, 'the two years before' is the 24 months ending on the day of the event. — Kate Bunting, May 28 '21 at 07:13
The event is referred to lasted for a whole year in this case. So, you mean, in this case, it would be 8 years in total? — Phil Nguyen, May 28 '21 at 07:15
If the event lasted a year, and there are 7 years surrounding it, then yes, the total time period is 8 years. — E.Aigle, May 28 '21 at 07:35
Does this answer your question? Prepositions of time ranges including or excluding the endpoints of the range. Also Is “until” inclusive or exclusive?, which is essentially about the same issue. — FumbleFingers, May 28 '21 at 13:23
What event was it that lasted exactly one year? If that is not the case then @KateBunting comment is the answer. The whole thing is ambiguous without more context. — mdewey, May 28 '21 at 16:05
@mdewey this is an event study, and regarding imposing a law, we use the year that the law was implemented to be the event year. That's why it is called event year, not event date. — Phil Nguyen, May 30 '21 at 20:52

How many years in this context relating to the word "relative to"?

0 Answers0