during last month

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "during last month" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the preceding month relative to the date of speaking or writing. For example: "I ran several miles each day during last month to get in shape."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

They, David Boudia (10-meter) and Christina Loukas (3-meter) had won spots during last month's trials.

The New York Times

Even during last month's meeting, shareholders were uncertain about what entity actually owned the field.

The New York Times

These important snow-clearing machines were used very effectively during last month's 15-inch blizzard.

The New York Times

Strangely, the striker from Senegal failed a medical at Stoke during last month's transfer window.

The Guardian - Sport

Meanwhile, Ford is recalling some of its F-150 pickup trucks and its U.S. monthly sales fell 7percentt during last month.

TechCrunch

May favored the 'Remain' side during last month's referendum campaign.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

More violence took place during last October's session.

The Economist

Mrs Dresch lost everything during last October's hurricane.

The Economist

An early sign of this impatience came during last July's student demonstrations in Tehran.

The Economist

"It is not the one we necessarily encourage," he explained during last October's MQT.

The Guardian

One morning during last October's session, there was an unusual sight: a bottle of buttermilk.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing reports or analyses, use "during last month" to clearly specify that you're referring to the immediately preceding month. Be consistent in your use of temporal phrases for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "during last month" when you actually mean a period longer than one month. For example, if you're referring to a trend over several months, use a phrase like "in recent months" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "during last month" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb or clause to specify when an action occurred. It provides a temporal context, indicating that the event took place in the month immediately preceding the current one. Ludwig provides examples across various domains, confirming its usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

53%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "during last month" is a grammatically correct and commonly used temporal phrase that specifies an event occurred in the immediately preceding month. As Ludwig shows, it appears frequently in News & Media and Science sources. Alternatives include "in the past month" or simply "last month", offering similar meaning. When using this phrase, ensure you are precisely referring to the month before the current one to avoid confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the past month

Replaces "during" with "in" and uses "past" instead of "last", focusing on the period's completion.

over the last month

Uses "over" to indicate a duration encompassing the preceding month.

within the last month

Emphasizes that something occurred at some point inside the preceding month.

in the previous month

Substitutes "last" with "previous", maintaining the same temporal reference.

during the month prior

Reorders the phrase slightly, using "prior" instead of "last".

in the month just gone

An informal way of referring to the previous month.

last month

A shorter version of the phrase, omits "during".

in recent weeks

Broadens the timeframe to include multiple weeks leading up to the present.

in the month before this one

A more descriptive way of referring to the previous month.

in the month that just ended

Specifies that the month in question has recently concluded.

FAQs

How do I use "during last month" in a sentence?

Use "during last month" to specify that an event or action occurred at some point within the month immediately before the current one. For example: "Sales increased significantly "during last month"."

What's a formal alternative to "during last month"?

A more formal alternative is "in the previous month". For example: "The committee reviewed the data collected "in the previous month"."

Is there a shorter way to say "during last month"?

Yes, you can simply say "last month". For instance: "We launched the new product "last month"."

Which is correct, "during last month" or "during the last month"?

"During last month" and "during the last month" are both correct and largely interchangeable. The presence of "the" does not substantially alter the meaning. However, "during last month" is slightly more concise and equally valid.