in late december

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'in late December' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express a specific time in December, such as a specific event that happened or is happening in late December. Example sentence: I will be travelling to Germany in late December to visit some friends.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

The movie theater reopened in late December.

The New York Times

Ms. Slater moved in late December.

The New York Times

In late December, Brig.

The New York Times

(It finally opened in late December).

The New Yorker

It will ship in late December.

The New York Times - Tech

Fortunately, the weather in late December cooperated.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

Gosu is scheduled to open in late December or January.

Vice

Patel sold in late December of 2016.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The deadline for those claims is in late December 2003.

The New York Times

The testing began in late December 2007.

Wikipedia

It made another appearance at #101 in late December 1959.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When specifying a time frame, "in late december" provides a general indication of when an event occurred without needing a precise date. Use it when the specific date is unknown or unimportant.

Common error

When using "in late december", always include the year if the context doesn't make it obvious. Omitting the year can cause confusion, especially when discussing events that occurred in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in late december" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying when an action or event takes place. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment that it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

16%

Science

16%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "in late december" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase that indicates a period towards the end of December. Ludwig AI confirms its validity for use in written English. It's versatile, fitting into neutral registers across news, academic, and scientific contexts. For clarity, especially in historical discussions, always specify the year. While synonyms exist, like "toward the end of december", "in late december" strikes a balance between formality and common usage, making it a reliable choice for temporal referencing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

toward the end of december

Rephrases the timing with a slight variation in wording.

in the latter part of december

Uses more formal language to describe the same period.

during the last days of december

Emphasizes the finality of the month.

at the tail end of december

Offers a more informal, colloquial alternative.

around the christmas season

Connects the timeframe to a specific holiday period.

in the holiday season

Links the timeframe to holiday festivities.

near year's end

Highlights the proximity to the end of the year.

at winter's onset

Relates the timing to the beginning of winter.

when winter begins

Describes start of the winter

in the depths of winter

Refers to the middle of winter in the northern hemisphere (June/July in the southern hemisphere).

FAQs

How can I use "in late december" in a sentence?

Use "in late december" to indicate a period towards the end of December. For example, "The project will be completed "in late december"."

What phrases are similar to "in late december"?

Similar phrases include "toward the end of december", "during the last days of december", and "at the tail end of december". These alternatives offer slight variations in formality and emphasis.

Is it necessary to include the year when using "in late december"?

Yes, including the year is crucial for clarity, especially when the context doesn't explicitly specify it. This avoids ambiguity about which year is being referenced.

How formal is the phrase "in late december"?

The phrase "in late december" is generally considered neutral and can be used in various contexts, from informal conversations to formal writing. However, alternatives like "in the latter part of december" may sound more formal.