exactly a year ago

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'exactly a year ago' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a specific date exactly one year prior to the date that the statement is being made. For example, "It was exactly a year ago today that I took my first step towards a healthier lifestyle."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

T. and his family moved, exactly a year ago, to a new community.

The New York Times

That was exactly a year ago, as a team of dressmakers worked on the royal wedding gown.

The New York Times

Exactly a year ago, Jason Russell was a nobody.

The Guardian

He resigned almost exactly a year ago without giving a specific reason.

The Washington Post

Almost exactly a year ago, ACMG proposed a radical shift in how incidental findings are handled.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Exactly 15 years ago, a show called "Survivor" premiered.

The Washington Post

"This week, exactly two years ago, was a rough one," Clinton said.

Huffington Post

It didn't exactly march.

The New York Times - Sports

That was exactly six years ago.

The Washington Post

It was exactly two years ago.

The New Yorker

Revis called exactly two days later.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "exactly a year ago", ensure the context is clear and that the event you're referencing is easily identifiable. This helps avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "exactly a year ago" when you mean "approximately a year ago". If the timing isn't precise, use words like "about" or "around" to indicate an estimate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exactly a year ago" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause. It specifies when an action occurred or a state existed, indicating a precise point in time one year in the past. Ludwig's AI confirms the phrase's grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "exactly a year ago" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to denote a specific point in time one year prior to the present. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is appropriate for various contexts, including news, business, and general communication. When writing, be precise in its use and make sure that you are referring to something that happened on that date and not just near that date, using alternatives when greater approximations are needed (e.g., "about a year ago"). Keep in mind its neutral tone. This makes it suitable for many types of writing. If you wish to, you can substitute it for slightly more formal terms like "one year prior" when writing in academic papers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

one year prior

Replaces "ago" with "prior", offering a more formal tone.

twelve months before

Specifies the timeframe in months instead of years.

a year back

Uses "back" instead of "ago", which is slightly more informal.

one year since

Changes the perspective to focus on the time passed since the event.

365 days ago

Provides the timeframe in days, offering more precision.

last year at this time

Highlights the specific time of year in relation to the past event.

a year from today

Shifts the reference point to the present day.

the same time last year

Emphasizes the recurrence of an event or situation.

12 months in the past

A more descriptive, and somewhat formal, restatement.

a trip around the sun ago

A more whimsical alternative, alluding to Earth's orbit.

FAQs

How do I use "exactly a year ago" in a sentence?

You can use "exactly a year ago" to specify a precise date or event that occurred one year prior to the current date. For example, "The company launched its new product exactly a year ago".

What can I say instead of "exactly a year ago"?

You can use alternatives like "one year prior" or "twelve months before", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "almost exactly a year ago"?

Yes, saying "almost exactly a year ago" is correct if you want to indicate that the event happened close to one year prior, but not precisely on that date.

What's the difference between "exactly a year ago" and "a year ago"?

"Exactly a year ago" implies precision, meaning the event occurred on the same date one year prior. "A year ago" is less precise and can refer to a timeframe close to one year, but not necessarily the same date.