In last decades

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "In last decades" is not correct in English; it should be "In the last decades." You can use it when referring to a time period that encompasses the previous several decades, typically in discussions about trends or changes over time.
Example: "In the last decades, technology has advanced at an unprecedented rate."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

In last decades, farmland biodiversity came under large threat.

Agriculture and Agricultural Science Procedia

In last decades, much effort has been made to drive cooling cycles exploiting renewable energy sources.

Energy Procedia

In last decades, linear parabolic equations with nonlocal terms have been investigated by numerous researchers [1 4].

Boundary Value Problems

In last decades, several computational strategies have been proposed for masonry structures, which form a large fraction of worldwide built heritage.

Construction and Building Materials

In last decades, more and more complex models have been developed to investigate hybrid energy systems in order to define optimal size and management strategies.

Energy

In last decades, the presence of harmful organic compounds in water supplies and in the discharge of wastewater from chemical industries, power plants, landfills, and agricultural sources is a topic of global concern.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

Cash them in tomorrow.

WikiHow

In February 1862 Maj.

The New York Times

In summer, in our town,.

The New Yorker

In 2010 in Baton Rouge, L.S.U.

The New York Times - Sports

"I went there in summer in 2004.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in recent decades" or "over the past few decades" for a grammatically correct and widely accepted way to refer to the last few decades.

Common error

Do not use the phrase "in last decades". It is grammatically incorrect. Instead, opt for "in the last decades" or "in recent decades".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in last decades" functions as a prepositional phrase intended to specify a period of time. However, it's grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI flags this phrasing as needing correction, suggesting more appropriate alternatives.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "in last decades" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. As Ludwig AI highlights, this phrase needs correction; the correct forms are "in the last decades" or, preferably, "in recent decades". These alternatives are more grammatically sound and commonly used. While the intention is to reference a period covering the past few decades, the incorrect grammar undermines effective communication. It's best to use established phrases to ensure clarity and credibility in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

In recent decades

Replaces "last" with "recent", offering a more grammatically sound and common way to refer to the past few decades.

Over the past few decades

This alternative specifies a duration of time that extends over a number of decades.

During the last few decades

Similar to the original but uses "during" to indicate the period, which enhances grammatical correctness.

For the past several decades

This phrase emphasizes the continuity of a condition or trend over multiple decades.

In the preceding decades

Implies a look back at earlier times, suggesting a contrast with current times.

Throughout the past decades

Suggests that something has occurred consistently or continuously across multiple decades.

In the previous decades

Emphasizes the time frame immediately before the present.

In the course of recent decades

Highlights a period of change or development over the specified time.

In the last few decades of the 20th century

Specifies a particular timeframe within recent history, referencing the late 1900s.

During those decades

Refers to a specific set of decades already mentioned or understood in context.

FAQs

What's the correct way to refer to the past few decades?

Instead of "in last decades", use phrases like "in recent decades", "over the past few decades", or "during the last few decades".

Is "in last decades" grammatically correct?

No, "in last decades" is not grammatically correct. The correct phrasing includes the article "the", such as "in the last decades" or, preferably, using "in recent decades".

What are some alternatives to "in last decades" that sound more natural?

More natural alternatives include "in recent years", "over the past decades", or "during the previous decades".

How can I use the concept of "in last decades" in a sentence correctly?

To correctly use the concept, you might say, "In the last few decades, technology has advanced rapidly," or "Over recent decades, there have been significant changes in climate patterns."