April of last year

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "April of 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, often in contexts discussing events or situations that occurred during that time. Example: "The project was initiated in April of last year, and we are now seeing the results."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

It's been open since April of last year.

The New York Times

I don't think I've played my best since probably April of last year.

Independent

It has been banned from drilling there since April of last year.

The New York Times

The king's lengthy list of medical problems includes breaking his hip in April of last year.

The New York Times

In April of last year, Kilar chose to leave the company, to start a new venture.

The New Yorker

"I don't think I've played my best since probably April of last year," Roddick said.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

This is April of 2011.

The New Yorker

America lost 5.4m jobs from September of 2008 to April of 2009.

The Economist

Data were collected between October of 2014 and April of 2015.

Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica

In April of 2001, Reverend Leon Sullivan died.

Huffington Post

Blood samples were collected in December of 2007, December of 2008, June of 2009, and April of 2010 6 (i.e., outside the typical dengue season).

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When providing context about a specific event, clarify the year explicitly if there might be ambiguity, as "last year" can be relative to the time of reading. For example, "In April of last year, 2024, the company launched its new product line."

Common error

Avoid mixing past and present tenses when describing events that occurred in "April of last year". Ensure that all verbs in the sentence are in the past tense to maintain clarity and grammatical correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "April of last year" functions as a temporal adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by specifying when an action occurred. Ludwig AI confirms that it clearly identifies a specific time frame within the previous calendar year.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "April of last year" serves as a common and grammatically correct way to specify the month of April in the year prior to the current one. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is usable in written English. It is seen primarily in News & Media and Science, which suggests its broad applicability across various contexts. While shorter alternatives like "last April" exist, "April of last year" provides a precise temporal reference. When using this phrase, ensure your verb tenses align and provide additional context if needed to avoid ambiguity. Top sources include The New York Times and The New Yorker, demonstrating its acceptance in authoritative publications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Last year in April

Reorders the elements of the original phrase, keeping the meaning largely consistent.

April of the previous year

Substitutes "last year" with a more formal equivalent, emphasizing the time frame.

The April before this one

Uses a descriptive approach to specify the month relative to the current one.

April a year ago

Expresses the time using a simpler, more direct structure.

The April just past

Indicates the immediately preceding April, similar to the original phrase.

A year prior in April

Uses formal language to state the timing.

In April of the year before

Replaces "last" with a more descriptive expression of past time.

The April that just ended last year

Adds specificity about the month's completion within the previous year.

April from twelve months ago

Quantifies the time elapsed in months.

Last April

Shortened and more conversational version. Omits "of last year".

FAQs

How can I use "April of last year" in a sentence?

Use "April of last year" to specify an event occurred in April of the preceding year. For example, "The conference was held in "April of last year", and we saw a significant increase in attendance."

What is a more formal alternative to "April of last year"?

A more formal alternative is "April of the previous year", which maintains the same meaning while sounding more professional. For example, "The report was submitted in "April of the previous year"."

Is it correct to say "last April" instead of "April of last year"?

Yes, "last April" is a shorter and equally correct way to say "April of last year". For example, "We visited Paris "last April"." However, "April of last year" can be used for emphasis or to avoid ambiguity.

What's the difference between "April of last year" and "in April"?

"In April" refers to any April, without specifying the year. "April of last year" clarifies that you are referring to April of the year immediately preceding the current one. Context is important to determine which phrase is appropriate.