immediate past

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "immediate past" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is most commonly used in the context of timelines or sequences, to refer to the time period directly preceding the current moment. Example: In the immediate past, we have seen a decline in sales due to the economic downturn.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

It was the immediate past.

The Washington Post

He is immediate past president and nominating chair.

Cornell University

He is the immediate past president, not the president.

The New York Times

It learns nothing from the lessons of the immediate past.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Most activists are shaped by the immediate past".

The New York Times

The prediction accuracy of ADALINE is enhanced by retraining it with immediate past measurements.

ISA Transactions

He had no way of knowing it was the immediate past that would shape his future.

University of California, Berkeley

He is the immediate past President of the University Council on Educational Administration.

Columbia University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Dr. Cummings is immediate past-President of the American-European Congress of Ophthalmic Surgery AECOSS).

Springer

Immediate Past-President, American College of Lifestyle Medicine.

Huffington Post

AWK is the immediate Past-President of the Trauma Association of Canada.

Critical Care

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "immediate past" to clearly delineate a specific recent period for analysis or comparison. For instance, when analyzing policy changes, refer to 'the immediate past administration' to specify which administration's policies are under scrutiny.

Common error

Avoid using "immediate past" when a more specific timeframe is needed. For example, instead of saying 'changes in the immediate past', specify 'changes in the last quarter' if you have those data to avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "immediate past" functions as a modifier followed by a noun, typically used to specify a period of time directly preceding the present. It modifies nouns like 'administration', 'president', or 'measurements', as shown in Ludwig examples. The analysis confirms its role in defining a temporal context.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Academia

36%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

2%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "immediate past" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression, as verified by Ludwig AI, employed to denote a period directly preceding the present. It commonly appears in News & Media, Academia, and Science contexts. To ensure clarity, avoid overlapping timeframes and always provide specific details, like 'the last quarter', instead of vague references. Related phrases include "recent history" or "prior period". Use it to give more specificity to the content you are generating.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

most recent times

Highlights the recency of the events or period being referred to.

recent history

Focuses on the period leading up to the present, similar to "immediate past".

close past

A shorter and more informal way to refer to the "immediate past".

prior period

Emphasizes the temporal precedence of a specified duration.

preceding era

Highlights a time frame that came directly before the current one.

the time just before

A more descriptive way to refer to the period directly preceding the present.

shortly before now

Stresses the close proximity in time to the current moment.

previous moments

Focuses on the moments that came right before the current moment.

the immediate antecedence

Highlights the temporal order.

bygone moments

Highlights moments that are clearly in the past

FAQs

How can I use "immediate past" in a sentence?

You can use "immediate past" to refer to the period directly preceding the present. For example, "The data from the "immediate past" shows a significant increase in sales."

What phrases are similar in meaning to "immediate past"?

Similar phrases include "recent history", "prior period", or "most recent times".

Is it correct to use "immediate past" in formal writing?

Yes, "immediate past" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when you need to clearly define a recent timeframe. It's often used in academic, business, and news contexts.

What's the difference between "immediate past" and "recent past"?

"Immediate past" generally refers to a shorter and more directly preceding timeframe than "recent past", which can encompass a slightly broader period.