First week of last month

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "First week of last month" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the initial seven days of the month prior to the current one. Example: "During the first week of last month, we conducted several important meetings to discuss project updates."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Started in 1990, the program offers about 50 one-week seminars over a six-week period (I attended the first week of last August).

The New York Times - Travel

But depending on the efficiency of the nearest passport agency, that online service fee could be well worth it -- as I found out the first week of last September, when a week before I was to fly to Belgium for a conference I realized my passport had expired.

The New York Times - Travel

In the first week of this month, her favorability ratings dropped 12 percentage points, according to the latest CBS News poll.

The New York Times

The drug, potentially harmful to human health, was detected in eight horses out of 206 tested by the FSA in the first week of this month.

The Guardian

But who's to say there isn't another one in his right arm set to go off the first week of next month?

The New York Times - Sports

The deaths followed a particularly bloody weekend and raised to at least 32 the number of American troops killed in the first week of this month.

The New York Times

Unemployment had already jumped last month to 4.9percentt from 4.5percentt in July, and new claims for unemployment insurance surged in the first week of this month, before the attacks.

The New York Times

The hearing before Shyam Das, the arbitrator, will resume the first week of next month, with the date to be determined, and continue at least into the following week.

The New York Times - Sports

Like so many other lawmakers across the country, the Michigan Legislature is set to go on Easter break and they won't all be back before the latter part of the first week of next month — high on the sparks of the heels of a 60-day-deadline to run a do-over Democratic primary.

The New York Times

With Mr. Shirzai's troops fighting on the southern flank at the airport, Mr. Karzai's soldiers stationed on the northern flank in Shawalit Kowt, and the marines occupying a base to the southwest, the Taliban were surrounded by the first week of this month.

The New York Times

Savio's blog, gardeninginLA.com, is expected to go live the first week of this month.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "first week of last month", ensure that the context makes it clear which month is being referenced. For example, if it is currently July, it should be evident you are referring to the first week of June.

Common error

Do not use "first week of last month" if the timeline is unclear. If there's a potential for confusion, specify the month directly to avoid misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "first week of last month" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by specifying a time frame. It indicates when an action or event occurred in relation to the current month.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

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Science

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Academia

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Encyclopedias

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Science

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "first week of last month" is a grammatically sound way to reference a specific time period. Ludwig AI identifies it as a prepositional phrase functioning as an adverbial, primarily used to provide temporal context. While Ludwig AI did not find many exact examples, it is generally considered acceptable in both formal and informal contexts. When using this phrase, ensure clarity in your writing by specifying the month directly when ambiguity might arise. Using alternative phrases such as "early part of last month" or "beginning of last month" can provide similar meaning with slightly different emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

early part of last month

Emphasizes the beginning portion of the month prior to the current one.

beginning of last month

Highlights the commencement of the previous month.

initial week of last month

Uses a more formal tone to specify the first seven days of the prior month.

first seven days of last month

Provides a literal description of the period in question.

opening week of the previous month

Employs a more descriptive and slightly elevated vocabulary.

start of last month

Focuses on the initial phase of the month before the current one.

the week commencing last month

Phrases the time in terms of the week that began the previous month.

at the beginning of last month

Uses "at" to specify the temporal location, slightly less direct than "in".

early last month

Shortened form that maintains the same meaning, though less precise.

the week of the first

Refers implicitly to the first week of any given month.

FAQs

How can I use "First week of last month" in a sentence?

You can use "first week of last month" to specify a period of time. For example, "During the "first week of last month", we finalized the budget."

What are some alternatives to "First week of last month"?

Some alternatives include "early part of last month", "beginning of last month", or "initial week of last month" depending on the context.

Is it more precise to say "First week of last month" or to name the specific month?

Naming the specific month (e.g., "first week of June") is more precise and avoids any potential ambiguity, especially in contexts where the timeline isn't immediately clear. "First week of last month" is suitable when the context is already established.

In what kind of documents or conversations would "First week of last month" be suitable?

This phrase is suitable for reports, presentations, or conversations where a general reference to a recent past period is sufficient. For formal contexts or when precision is critical, specifying the month is preferable.