Over the past year

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Over the past year" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to events, changes, or experiences that have occurred during the previous year. Example: "Over the past year, we have seen significant improvements in our sales figures."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Over the past year Iridium's shares have fallen by 89%.

The Economist

Over the past year, America's GDP grew by 3.3%.

The Economist

Over the past year, Minnesota lost 1,900 government jobs.

The New York Times

Over the past year, it's down 13.6%.

Forbes

Over the past year the CPI has climbed only 1.3%.

Forbes

Over the past year, its GDP has fallen by 0.4%.

BBC

Over the past year, its stock value has lost 91.7%.

Forbes

Over the past year, Tyco has gained just under 70%.

Forbes

Over the past year, I ached to shave my head.

Huffington Post

Mr. Perry has maintained that focus over the past year.

The New York Times

Both have raised interest rates over the past year.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Over the past year" to provide context when comparing current data or events with those of the preceding year. For example, "Over the past year", our sales have increased by 15%.

Common error

To prevent confusion, especially in documents with a long shelf life, consider specifying the exact year you're referring to. Instead of just stating "Over the past year", write "Over the past year (2024-2025)" to clarify the period.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Over the past year" functions as an adverbial phrase, providing a temporal context for the main clause. It specifies the period during which an action, event, or state occurred. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "Over the past year" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase that provides temporal context, as Ludwig AI confirms. It's particularly prevalent in news, science, and business contexts to describe changes, developments, or trends occurring during the preceding year. The phrase is versatile and suitable for various communication settings, making it a reliable choice for specifying time frames in writing and speech. While alternatives like "in the last 12 months" exist, "Over the past year" remains a common and clear way to express this duration.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

In the last 12 months

Emphasizes the specific duration of twelve months, offering a more precise alternative.

Over the last twelve months

Combines "over" with a specific duration, stressing the entire period of the past twelve months.

During the previous year

Uses "previous" to specify the year immediately preceding the current one, providing a slightly more formal tone.

Within the past year

Highlights actions or events that have occurred at some point in the last year, focusing on inclusion within the timeframe.

For the past 365 days

Offers a precise duration, emphasizing the number of days in the specified period.

In the course of the last year

Adds a sense of progression or unfolding events within the year, suggesting a series of developments.

Throughout the last year

Highlights the continuous presence or occurrence of something during the entirety of the year.

During the year prior

Shortens the phrase while maintaining formality, indicating the year immediately before the present.

In the year gone by

Offers a more poetic or reflective phrasing, emphasizing the passage of time.

Since last year

Focuses on the starting point of the timeframe, emphasizing changes or developments that have happened since then.

FAQs

How do I use "Over the past year" in a sentence?

Begin your sentence with "Over the past year," followed by a comma, then state the event or trend you are describing. For example, "Over the past year, our company has expanded into new markets".

What are some alternatives to saying "Over the past year"?

You can use alternatives like "in the last 12 months", "during the previous year", or "within the past year" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "During the past year" instead of "Over the past year"?

Yes, "During the past year" is a grammatically correct and semantically similar alternative to "Over the past year". Both phrases are widely accepted and used in formal and informal writing.

What is the difference between "In the past year" and "Over the past year"?

"In the past year" generally refers to an unspecified point within the last year, while "Over the past year" typically describes a trend or continuous action throughout the entire duration of the year. Although, in some contexts, they can be interchangeable.