In the preceding year

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "In the preceding year" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the year immediately before the current one, often in reports or analyses. Example: "The company's revenue increased by 15% in the preceding year, indicating strong growth."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In the preceding year Alliance Boots plc made profits of around £455m and its accounts for 2007 show £131m tax.

The Guardian - Business

In the preceding year he had been hospitalised for an elective operation.

BMJ Open

In the preceding year the patient had neither been hospitalised, nor operated upon, nor had he travelled abroad.

BMJ Open

Design: Retrospective survey of current osteoporosis in relation to falls and fractures in the preceding year.

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

The agency had received reports of neglect and abuse involving the family in the preceding year.

The New York Times

This improvement, however, was far less than the $33.6 billion reduction achieved in the preceding year.

The New York Times

Half-a-dozen ministers had quit the government in the preceding year.

The Economist

By 1987, he said, he had seen Mr. Botha three or four times in the preceding year.

The New York Times

More than 70% of have at least two diagnosed mental health conditions, 10% experienced auditory hallucinations in the preceding year.

The Guardian - Opinion

This was an increase of about 3percentnt over the $777 average in the preceding year.

The New York Times

Passenger revenue, however, dropped to $16‐million in 1969, or $4‐million less than in the preceding year.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "In the preceding year", ensure the context clearly establishes the current year to avoid ambiguity. For example, in a report covering 2024, "In the preceding year" would refer to 2023.

Common error

Avoid using "In the preceding year" without clearly defining the reference point. If the current year isn't evident, specify it to prevent confusion. For instance, instead of just saying "sales increased", state "In 2024, sales increased compared to the preceding year, 2023."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "In the preceding year" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause by specifying the time frame. As seen in the Ludwig examples, it adds context and temporal information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

37%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Academia

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "In the preceding year" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adverbial phrase to refer to the year immediately before the one being discussed. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, predominantly formal settings like scientific publications, news articles, and business reports. The phrase helps establish temporal context, facilitating comparisons and highlighting trends. While alternatives like "in the previous year" or "last year" exist, "in the preceding year" maintains a level of formality appropriate for professional communication. Remember to provide clear context to avoid ambiguity when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

The immediately preceding year

Adds emphasis on the immediacy of the previous year.

In the previous year

Replaces "preceding" with "previous", a common synonym, maintaining a formal tone.

During the prior year

Substitutes "preceding" with "prior", slightly more formal.

The year before

Simplifies the phrase to a more direct and informal expression.

Last year

The most concise and informal way to express the same meaning.

In the year before that

Adds emphasis that it's the year immediately before.

A year earlier

Uses temporal adverb instead of a prepositional phrase.

The year before the current one

More explicit and less concise, avoiding ambiguity in certain contexts.

In the year under review

This phrase is used when you are analysing data for a particular year and want to refer back to the previous year for comparison. Implies a formal analysis.

In the year gone by

Offers a more poetic or narrative alternative, suitable for less formal contexts.

FAQs

How can I use "In the preceding year" in a sentence?

You can use "In the preceding year" to refer to the year immediately before the one you are discussing. For example, "The company's profits declined in 2024 compared to "in the preceding year".".

What phrases are similar to "In the preceding year"?

Similar phrases include "in the previous year", "during the prior year", or simply "last year". The best choice depends on the desired level of formality and context.

Is "In the preceding year" formal or informal?

"In the preceding year" is generally considered a formal phrase, suitable for academic, business, or news contexts. For more casual conversations, "last year" might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "In the preceding year" and "In the following year"?

"In the preceding year" refers to the year before the current one, while "In the following year" refers to the year after the current one. For instance, if the current year is 2024, "In the preceding year" means 2023, and "in the following year" means 2025.