3 previous months

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "3 previous months" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a time period that includes the three months leading up to the current date. Example: "The sales figures for the 3 previous months indicate a significant increase in revenue."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Patients that had received any type of IFN during the 3 previous months were also excluded.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Conversely, neither insulin nor C-peptide correlated with prednisone dosing (milligrams per day) during the 3 previous months.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

As a result, a few schoolchildren required a relatively longer time to complete the first part of the questionnaire despite having written the names of the 3 previous months for guidance.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

These were: having moderate or bad health (RR = 2.1; 1.3 to 3.4; p = 0.004), and having undergone psychological treatment during the 3 previous months (RR = 1.8; CI95% 1.1 to 3.0; p = 0.019).

BMC Psychiatry

A graphic observation displayed that rainfall always peaks 2 3 months preceding the peaks of DF fever cases (Fig. 2) and model-5 showed that rainfall within 3 previous months at a level equal to or less than 450 mm was positively correlated with DF cases of the current month (Table 3).

Global Health Action

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The medication prescribed to the patients in the pre-treatment (6 previous months) and treatment (12-month follow-up) periods are shown in Table 4.

ClinicoEconomics and Outcomes Research

The dependent variable visits denotes the number of physician visits (generalist or specialist with and without a referral) made by an individual during the 12 previous months.

Health Economics Review

Here, by contrast, only IUs with visits to providers during the 12 previous months violated the proportional odds assumption.

BMC Health Services Research

More recently, a meta-analysis of 27 studies estimated at 27% the proportion of European adults with at least one mental disorder in the 12 previous months [ 52].

BMC Psychiatry

Conversely, there is a significant negative relationship of the temperature in the 2 4 previous months (lag of −2, −3, and −4) with the coverage of the current month (Fig.  4), and the MI was negatively correlated with the temperature of the 3 4 previous months (time lags −3 and −4).

Biological Invasions

Its index of sentiment fell to minus 15 from minus 14 the previous month and minus 30 in March 2009.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "3 previous months", ensure the context clearly establishes the reference point. This helps avoid ambiguity regarding the specific months being discussed.

Common error

Avoid using "3 previous months" without clearly defining what the 'present' or 'current' time frame is. Without context, the phrase becomes vague and confusing for the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "3 previous months" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun, indicating a specific timeframe. It specifies the three months immediately preceding a given point in time. This is supported by Ludwig, which presents examples from various reliable sources.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "3 previous months" is a grammatically sound and understandable way to refer to the three months immediately before a specific time. Ludwig confirms its validity and usability in various contexts. While not extremely common, it appears frequently enough in scientific and news-related articles to be considered familiar. It is key to provide clear context when using this phrase, so that the reader knows precisely which months are being referenced.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

last three months

Replaces "previous" with "last" for a slightly more informal tone.

past three months

Uses "past" instead of "previous", offering a common synonym.

prior three months

Substitutes "previous" with "prior", maintaining a formal tone.

three months prior

Reorders the phrase while retaining the same meaning.

three preceding months

Employs "preceding" as a more formal alternative to "previous".

the three months before

Rephrases to specify months leading up to a certain point.

in the last quarter

If it refers to the last three months of the year, uses the term "quarter".

the three most recent months

Adds emphasis to the recency of the months in question.

the preceding trimester

Uses the term "trimester", common in academic contexts.

three months ago

Uses "ago" to indicate a past timeframe without direct relation to a current event or point.

FAQs

How can I use "3 previous months" in a sentence?

You can use "3 previous months" to refer to a period leading up to a specific date or event. For example, "The company's performance over the "3 previous months" has been exceptional".

What's a more informal way to say "3 previous months"?

Alternatives like "last three months" or "past three months" are suitable for less formal contexts.

Is there a difference between "3 previous months" and "previous 3 months"?

While both are understandable, "3 previous months" is more commonly used and grammatically standard. "Previous 3 months" might sound slightly awkward to some native English speakers.

When should I use "3 previous months" instead of "3 months ago"?

"3 previous months" is used when you're referring to a period leading up to a specific point in time that is relevant to your discussion. "3 months ago" simply refers to a point in the past relative to the current time, without necessarily connecting to a specific event or period.