in the fourth quarter

USAGE SUMMARY

"in the fourth quarter" is a grammatically correct phrase and is commonly used in written English.
It refers to the last three months of the year (October, November, and December). Example: "Sales for our company have increased by 10% in the fourth quarter, thanks to our successful holiday marketing campaign."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In the fourth quarter, C.

The New York Times - Sports

chant in the fourth quarter.

The New York Times - Sports

territory late in the fourth quarter.

The New York Times

Emotions flared in the fourth quarter.

The New York Times - Sports

VALUE Returns in the fourth quarter.

The New York Times

Johnson took over in the fourth quarter.

The New York Times - Sports

Investment looked healthy in the fourth quarter.

The Economist

And in the fourth quarter, he prevailed.

The New York Times - Sports

In the fourth quarter, that was $14.4 million.

The New York Times

Germany's economy contracted in the fourth quarter.

The Economist

Coughlin pulled him in the fourth quarter.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to financial reports or business performance, use "in the fourth quarter" to clearly denote the October-December timeframe. For example, "Sales increased significantly in the fourth quarter due to holiday shopping."

Common error

Avoid assuming "in the fourth quarter" always refers to October-December. Some companies have fiscal years that don't align with the calendar year, so their fourth quarter may fall at a different time. Always clarify which timeframe you are referencing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in the fourth quarter" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, specifying when an action or event occurs. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Science

14%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in the fourth quarter" is a common and grammatically correct way to refer to the last three months (October, November, and December) of a calendar or fiscal year. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and frequency in various contexts, especially news and media. When using this phrase, it's crucial to be aware of the specific context, especially in business, where fiscal years might differ from calendar years. While synonyms like "during the final quarter" or "in Q4" exist, "in the fourth quarter" provides a clear and widely understood timeframe. Remember to check that you're not mixing up your fiscal and calendar quarters. With its prevalence in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Economist, mastering its usage will improve the clarity and professionalism of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

during the final quarter

Replaces "in" with "during" and "fourth" with "final", emphasizing the temporal aspect.

in the last three months of the year

Replaces the specific term "fourth quarter" with a descriptive phrase, specifying the time period.

in the Q4 period

Uses the abbreviation "Q4" for "fourth quarter", maintaining the meaning with a shortened form.

during the October-December period

Specifies the months included in the fourth quarter.

in the closing period of the year

Focuses on the concept of closure and the end of the year.

within the fourth fiscal quarter

Adds "fiscal" to specify that it's about the company's financial year.

in the terminal portion of the year

Substitutes with more formal vocabulary, maintaining the core meaning.

in the latter part of the year

Emphasizes the later part of the year without mentioning quarters.

at the end of the year

Simplifies the phrase to broadly indicate the year's end.

towards the year's end

Expresses approximation of the year's end.

FAQs

What does "in the fourth quarter" mean?

The phrase "in the fourth quarter" typically refers to the last three months of the calendar year: October, November, and December. It is commonly used in financial reporting, sports, and general discussions about time periods.

How is "in the fourth quarter" used in business?

In business, "in the fourth quarter" often indicates the final financial reporting period of the year. It is a crucial time for many companies due to holiday sales and end-of-year performance evaluations. You can see how it's used in contexts like "investment looked healthy in the fourth quarter".

Are there synonyms for "in the fourth quarter"?

Yes, depending on the context, you could use phrases like "during the final quarter", "in Q4", or "in the October-December period". Each alternative provides a slightly different nuance while maintaining the core meaning. Each can be seen like "during the final quarter".

Is it correct to use "in the 4th quarter" instead of "in the fourth quarter"?

Yes, "in the 4th quarter" is a common abbreviation and is generally acceptable, especially in informal contexts or where space is limited (e.g., tables, charts). However, "in the fourth quarter" is more formal and preferred in professional writing.