fast forward two months

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fast forward two months" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a transition in time, often in storytelling or when summarizing events that occur after a specific period. Example: "After the initial meeting, fast forward two months, and we finally had a prototype ready for testing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

But fast forward two months and following crucial wins against Sacramento and Charlotte, they have closed the gap with eighth seeded Utah to just five games.

Independent

But, fast forward two months, and the Viggle/GetGlue merger was dead in the water.

TechCrunch

Fast forward two months and Grooveshark is back to where it started: releasing the app on Cydia.

TechCrunch

Fast forward two months, and Blah Girls now has a distribution deal with MySpaceTV, which had 51 million unique video streams in August (Comscore).

TechCrunch

Fast forward two months after the raid, and camp has swelled to a number well over 15,000 resilient people.

Huffington Post

Just fast forward two months: While we wait for the Supreme Court's decision on DOMA (as well as Prop 8) any day now, the Democratic President of the United States isn't exactly falling all over himself for gays, refusing for over a year now to sign an executive order banning employment discrimination against LGBT people among federal contractors.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Fast forward seven months, and all I could do was shake my head.

The Guardian - Opinion

Fast forward six months, to a chilly January evening, and fitness permitted Arsène Wenger to field these two speedsters in tandem for the first time.

The Guardian - Sport

Before, people used to mistake me for a sixth former – fast forward six months and the stress means I look closer to 65.

The Guardian

Fast forward three months from Sanguinetti's unfortunate remarks, and a movement that was born in riposte to his loose talk has now gone international.

The Guardian

Fast forward three months to Friday, post health-care victory, as Mr. Obama took his second victory lap of the week, on the Russian arms control agreement, the equivalent of a double in baseball.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fast forward two months" to create a sense of brevity when describing events that occur after a specific duration. It's particularly effective in narratives and summaries where detailing every moment is unnecessary.

Common error

While generally acceptable, "fast forward two months" can sometimes feel too informal for highly academic or professional documents. Opt for phrases like "two months later" or "in the subsequent two months" for a more polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fast forward two months" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb by indicating when something happened. Ludwig examples show how it introduces a temporal jump in a narrative, quickly advancing the storyline.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fast forward two months" is a grammatically sound and understandable phrase, frequently used in news and media to quickly advance a narrative. Ludwig's analysis confirms its correct usage, although a more formal phrasing might be suitable for academic writing. When using this phrase, remember its primarily narrative function: to effectively skip over details and highlight subsequent events. When in doubt, alternatives like "two months later" may provide a more versatile tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

advance two months

Replaces "fast forward" with a simpler verb, maintaining the timeframe.

move ahead two months

Similar to "advance", but with a slightly different nuance.

jump ahead two months

Uses a more informal verb to indicate moving forward in time.

skipping forward two months

Implies omitting the events of the intervening period.

two months later

Focuses on the time elapsed rather than the act of moving forward.

in two months' time

Emphasizes the duration until the event occurs.

going forward two months

Uses a more conversational and less formal tone.

looking ahead two months

Adds a perspective of anticipation to the timeframe.

shifting the timeline forward two months

Emphasizes a deliberate change in the temporal sequence.

progressing two months into the future

A more formal and elaborate way of expressing the same idea.

FAQs

How can I use "fast forward two months" in a sentence?

You can use "fast forward two months" to indicate a jump in time within a narrative. For example, "The project began smoothly; "fast forward two months", and we faced unexpected challenges."

What are some alternatives to "fast forward two months"?

Alternatives include "two months later", "in two months' time", or "after two months", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "fast forward two months" in formal writing?

While understandable, "fast forward two months" might be perceived as informal in some formal contexts. Consider using more formal alternatives like "subsequently, two months later" for a more professional tone.

What's the difference between "fast forward two months" and "two months later"?

"Fast forward two months" actively implies a skipping over events, while "two months later" simply states the time elapsed. The former is more dynamic and narrative, the latter more neutral and factual.