for the second month in row

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for the second month in row" is not correct.
It should be "for the second month in a row." You can use it when referring to a situation or event that has occurred consecutively for two months. Example: "The company has reported increased sales for the second month in a row."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

While fewer homes entered the foreclosure process last year, they rose on an annual basis in December for the second month in row.

The Guardian - Money

Intakes of new business rose for the second month in row, and at the fastest pace since March 2012.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Unemployment rose in April, for the second month in a row, to 4.5%—the highest since October 1998.

The Economist

Consumer confidence rose in January for the second month in a row.

The Economist

Incomes, the fuel for future spending, rose 0.4% in June for the second month in a row.

Forbes

Meanwhile U.K. retail sales registered zero growth for September, and for the second month in a row, confounding expectations for 0.5% growth.

Forbes

Orders for long-lasting factory goods edged up in April, but a main category that tracks business investment spending fell for the second month in a row.

The New York Times

The index came in at 9.24 in March, expanding for the second month in a row.

The Guardian - Business

The unemployment rate dropped for almost every demographic group except whites for the second month in a row.

The New York Times

A key index measuring growth in the service economy dropped in July for the second month in a row to its lowest level since January, the report showed.

The New York Times

But unemployment, calculated from separate data, held steady for the second month in a row, at 4.5percentt.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct idiom, "for the second month in a row", to ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy in your writing. This enhances credibility and avoids confusion.

Common error

Ensure you include the article "a" in the phrase. Omitting it, as in "for the second month in row", is a common grammatical error that should be avoided to maintain proper English usage.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for the second month in row" functions as an adverbial phrase, attempting to modify a verb by indicating the duration or frequency of an action. However, due to its grammatical incorrectness, as noted by Ludwig, it fails to perform this function effectively.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "for the second month in row" is a grammatically incorrect construction attempting to convey that an event has occurred for two consecutive months. According to Ludwig, the correct phrasing is "for the second month in a row". While examples of the incorrect phrase exist in news media, as shown by Ludwig, it is crucial to use the correct form to ensure clarity and credibility. Alternative correct phrases include "for the second consecutive month" or "for two months straight". Therefore, it is recommended to avoid the phrase "for the second month in row" in favor of its grammatically sound alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for the second consecutive month

Replaces "in a row" with "consecutive", emphasizing the unbroken sequence of months.

for two months straight

Uses "straight" to indicate the continuous nature of the two-month period.

for the past two months

Focuses on the time frame leading up to the present.

in two successive months

Employs "successive" to highlight the sequential occurrence of the months.

two months running

Uses the idiom "running" to mean consecutively.

for the second month on end

Adds "on end" for emphasis on the continuous nature of the period.

during the last two months

Similar to 'for the past two months,' emphasizing the recent timeframe.

over the course of two months

Highlights the duration of the two-month period.

in both of the last two months

More explicitly states that the event occurred in each of the two most recent months.

for the second month consecutively

Positions "consecutively" at the end for a slightly different emphasis.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "for the second month in row"?

The grammatically correct way to express this is "for the second month "in a row"". The inclusion of the article "a" is essential for proper English usage.

Is "for the second month in row" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "for the second month in row" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "for the second month "in a row"".

What are some alternatives to "for the second month in row"?

Alternatives include "for the second consecutive month", "for two months straight", or "for the past two months". The most accurate alternative is "for the second month "in a row"".

How can I use the phrase "for the second month in a row" correctly in a sentence?

Example: "The company has reported increased sales for the second month "in a row"." Ensure that you include "a" between "in" and "row" for grammatical correctness.