from the previous year

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "from the previous year" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that occurred or was relevant in the year before the current one. Example: "The data collected from the previous year shows a significant increase in sales."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This is up two places from the previous year.

University of California, Berkeley

That's a 51percentt increase from the previous year.

The New York Times

That is a 7percentt increase from the previous year.

The Washington Post

Both numbers are relatively unchanged from the previous year.

The Washington Post

Ad sales and subscriptions soared from the previous year.

The New York Times

But a rather large drop from the previous year.

The New York Times

The data used are: actual yearly, incremental growth rate from the previous year, and both together (actual and incremental growth rate from the previous year).

International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems

Some of the deadlines are approximations based on competitions from the previous year.

University of California, Berkeley

Student involvement in Giving Day – with 2,400 contributing – doubled from the previous year.

Cornell University

Aid for each year is based on the student's financial information from the previous year.

Stanford University

It's a space routinely inhabited also by 8th-graders my students from the previous year.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing reports or analyses, ensure the time frame is clear. Specify the exact years being compared if there's any ambiguity.

Common error

Don't assume your audience knows which "previous year" you're referencing, especially in documents that span multiple years. Always clarify the year for context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "from the previous year" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or verb, indicating a point of reference in time. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Academia

23%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "from the previous year" is a grammatically correct and very common prepositional phrase used to draw comparisons with the preceding year. Ludwig AI validates its usage across various contexts, particularly in news, academic, and scientific domains. While versatile, ensure clarity by specifying the exact years when possible. Alternative phrases include "year-over-year" and "from last year", though the latter is less formal. Therefore, this phrase is a reliable choice for indicating temporal relationships in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

compared to the prior year

Replaces "previous" with "prior", maintaining a formal tone.

in comparison to the preceding year

Offers a more elaborate and formal way to express the same relationship.

year-over-year

A more concise, business-oriented term for comparing two consecutive years.

from last year

Simplifies the phrase using common language for a less formal tone.

relative to the year before last

Slightly less common, emphasizes the chronological order.

against the backdrop of the year before

Adds a descriptive, contextual element to the comparison.

when viewed against the prior 12 months

Adds the dimension of a specific time frame, emphasizing months.

as opposed to the previous annum

Replaces "year" with "annum" for a very formal or archaic feel.

in relation to the year gone by

Uses a more poetic phrasing for the previous year.

derived from the year before

Focuses on the derivation or origination point.

FAQs

How can I use "from the previous year" in a sentence?

You can use "from the previous year" to compare data or events between two consecutive years. For example, "Sales increased by 10% "from the previous year"".

What's a more concise alternative to "from the previous year"?

A more concise alternative is "year-over-year", often used in business and financial contexts to indicate a comparison between two consecutive years.

Is it correct to say "from the prior year" instead of "from the previous year"?

Yes, "from the prior year" is a valid and often interchangeable alternative. "Prior" and "previous" are synonyms in this context.

What's the difference between saying "from last year" and "from the previous year"?

While both are similar, "from last year" is generally considered more informal. "From the previous year" is suitable for more formal writing, like reports or academic papers. Consider the context when choosing between "from last year" and ""from the previous year"".