if the last

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "if the last" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are referring to the final item in a sequence or list, often in conditional statements. Example: "If the last option is not available, we will have to choose another alternative."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

If the last play was great, they think they're great.

The New York Times - Sports

If the last play was bad, they think they're bad.

The New York Times - Sports

If the last, it may be called a bow window.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Does it matter if the last kindnesses a person feels are from a machine?

The Economist

If the last is the smoky lentil soup, studded with carrot and onion bits, grab it.

The New York Times

If the last parliament was about rescue, the next must be about renewal: rescue to renewal.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

If the last-trained perceptron largely misclassifies the given training set into a reduced number of classes, then this perceptron is substituted with a new perceptron.

Neural Networks

If the last-minute photographer costs the same as your original photographer, there are no damages.

WikiHow

It's almost, almost, as if the last two years never happened.

Independent

IF the last 18 months have taught Americans anything, it's that market collapses don't discriminate.

The New York Times

If the last week is any indication, the road to any such agreement will be bumpy.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "if the last", ensure the sequence or list being referred to is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify "if the last step in the process...".

Common error

Avoid using "if the last" when you intend to refer to the 'latest' or 'most recent'. "Last" implies a concluding element in a defined series, whereas "latest" simply means the most current.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "if the last" functions as a conditional clause introducing a scenario dependent on the final element of a sequence. As shown in Ludwig, it sets up a condition that, if met by the last item, will result in a particular outcome.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

34%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "if the last" is a versatile conditional phrase used to establish a contingency based on the final item in a sequence. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across diverse contexts, ranging from News & Media to Science and Wiki sources. Although "if the last" is generally neutral in tone, more formal alternatives like "provided that the last" may be preferred in academic or business settings. A key consideration is to ensure the series being referenced is clearly defined, and to avoid confusing "last" with "latest". Overall, "if the last" is a valuable tool for expressing conditions dependent on the concluding element of a series.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

if the final

Replaces "last" with its direct synonym, maintaining identical meaning.

if it's the last

Adds a pronoun to clarify the subject of the conditional statement.

if the preceding

Substitutes "last" with "preceding", focusing on the immediately prior element.

in the event of the last

Adds formality by using "in the event of", emphasizing a hypothetical situation.

should the last

Uses "should" to create a more formal or hypothetical conditional.

assuming the last

Replaces "if" with "assuming", shifting the emphasis to an assumption.

provided that the last

Emphasizes a condition with "provided that", making it more explicit.

given the last

Indicates that something is already known or established.

when the last

Changes "if" to "when", indicating a time-based condition rather than a general one.

considering the last

Shifts the focus to deliberation with "considering", suggesting a thought process.

FAQs

How can I use "if the last" in a sentence?

The phrase "if the last" is used to set a condition based on the final item in a series or sequence. For example, "If the last step fails, revert to the beginning".

What's the difference between "if the last" and "if the latest"?

"If the last" refers to the final item in a known sequence, while "if the latest" refers to the most recent item. For example, "If the last instruction was unclear" versus "If the latest news is accurate".

Which is more appropriate, "if the last" or "if the final"?

Both "if the last" and "if the final" are grammatically correct and often interchangeable. The choice depends on the specific context, with "final" sometimes preferred for emphasis.

Are there alternatives to using "if the last" in academic writing?

In academic writing, you might consider more formal alternatives such as "provided that the last" or "assuming the last" for increased precision.