April last year

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "April last year" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the month of April in the previous calendar year. Example: "We had a significant event in April last year that changed the course of our project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Trials of this idea are currently under way, one of which should report next year.

The Economist

Last year, during David Cameron's trip to Beijing, the same paper announced that Britain was "just an old European country apt [that is, suitable] for travel and study".

The Guardian - Opinion

Referred to in court as D, she entered a not guilty plea to a charge of intimidation last week while wearing a niqab after the judge backed down from a previous decision that she would have to show her face to be properly identified.

The Guardian

"They gave me their word a year ago and now I want them to honour that.

The Guardian - Sport

According to the Campaign for Better Transport (CBT), the cost of a Milton Keynes season ticket has risen 23.5%, or £930, since January 2010 and is one of a number of fares that have increased around four times more than average wages over this five-year period.

The Guardian

As a result, the country lost a further 21 positions in the policy evaluation compared to last year, thus replacing Canada as the worst-performing industrial country".

The Guardian

But this year is different.

The New York Times

It said that if automatic spending cuts go into force and all the Bush-era tax cuts expire, the nation would slip into recession next year and unemployment would rise to 9.1 percent, from October's rate of 7.9 percent.

The New York Times

"Scoring is not up, but injuries are up," Tallon said of the current rule last week.

The New York Times

The order book was down slightly at £3.6bn from the last update in June but well ahead of the £3.3bn reported this time last year.

The Guardian - Business

Since last July the state has opted to use just one massive dose of the sedative pentobarbital as its lethal injection, instead of a cocktail of three different drugs.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider your audience. In formal writing, specifying the exact year (e.g., "April 2024") might be preferable to "April last year".

Common error

Avoid using "April last year" if the reader might not know the current year. Always provide the specific year if there's a chance of confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "April last year" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying when an event or action took place. It indicates a particular month (April) in relation to the preceding year.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "April last year" serves as a temporal marker, pinpointing the month of April in the year preceding the present one. While grammatically sound and neutrally registered, its frequency is currently absent from Ludwig's database. To avoid potential ambiguity, especially when the context necessitates precision, it's often advisable to use the specific year (e.g., "April 2024"). If the audience is unaware of the current year, the use of "April last year" could also lead to misinterpretation. To ensure clarity and avoid confusion, remember to add the year.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

April of the previous year

Replaces "last year" with a more formal phrase.

April 2024

Specifies the year numerically, adding precision.

April a year ago

Emphasizes the duration since the month of April.

The April before this one

Uses a more descriptive approach to indicate the time.

In April of the past year

A slightly more elaborate version of "April last year".

The April prior to this year

Uses "prior" to indicate the preceding year.

Last year's April

Reorders the phrase for a slightly different emphasis.

The April just gone

Employs a more colloquial expression.

April the year before

Uses "the year before" for a more conversational tone.

That April

Uses a demonstrative adjective to point to a specific April.

FAQs

What does "April last year" mean?

The phrase "April last year" refers to the month of April in the year immediately preceding the current year. For example, if the current year is 2025, "April last year" refers to April 2024.

How can I specify a past April more precisely?

To avoid ambiguity, especially in contexts spanning multiple years, you can specify the year numerically. For instance, instead of saying "April last year", you can say "April 2024".

What are some alternative ways to say "April last year"?

You can use alternatives like "April of the previous year" or "April a year ago" to convey the same meaning.

Is "April last year" formal or informal?

The phrase "April last year" is generally considered neutral in tone. However, using the specific year (e.g., "April 2024") is often preferred in formal writing for clarity and precision.