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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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in the preceding months

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

"in the preceding months" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that has happened or changed in the time period before the current moment. For example, "Sales have been declining in the preceding months."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

A strange interlude, having been no further west than Buttermere in the preceding months.

The places were filled following a thoroughgoing outreach that had taken place in the preceding months.

News & Media

The New Yorker

In the preceding months, both their mother, Chrissie, and their aunt Bridie Dolan had died.

News & Media

The New Yorker

Neither recalled him being particularly upset about anything in the preceding months.

News & Media

The New Yorker

The artistic material generated in the preceding months was as tailored as it was vast.

They told me Khamis Qaddafi's soldiers had taken over the entire area in the preceding months.

In the preceding months, each pixel in "The Unicorn in Captivity" had been crunched through many billions of calculations.

News & Media

The New Yorker

That could be a sign that some of the momentum "GMA" had built up in the preceding months may be wearing off.

News & Media

The New York Times

It is focused on finding out what this administration could have done to thwart the attacks, what they should have done in the preceding months and what they would have done had they had better intelligence.

News & Media

The Guardian

Conflicting evidence In the preceding months Stevens had cabled three times (7 June, 9 July, and 15 August) asking for more protection or that plans to draw down security be halted, according to the House oversight report.

News & Media

The Guardian

In the preceding months, everyone had heard stories about young men being rounded up, and about elders who had refused to move being found dead on the roads in the morning.

News & Media

The Guardian
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "in the preceding months", ensure the context clearly establishes the point of reference. For example, 'Sales declined in the preceding months, leading to the Q3 loss.'

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by explicitly stating the reference point. Instead of saying 'There were changes in the preceding months', specify 'There were changes in the preceding months before the new policy was implemented'.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

86%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in the preceding months" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause by specifying a time frame. It sets a temporal context, indicating that an action or state occurred during the months before a particular reference point. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

33%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "in the preceding months" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that serves to situate events or trends within the months before a specific reference point. Ludwig AI confirms that the expression is correct and usable in written English. The phrase is generally considered to have a neutral to formal register and appears frequently in news, scientific and wiki contexts. To ensure clarity, it is advisable to clearly establish the reference point when using this phrase. Alternatives include phrases like "in the prior months" or "in the previous months", depending on the desired level of formality.

FAQs

How can I use "in the preceding months" in a sentence?

Use "in the preceding months" to refer to a period before the current month or the month being discussed. For example, "The company's profits decreased "in the preceding months" due to increased competition."

What's a more formal alternative to "in the preceding months"?

A more formal alternative is "in the prior months". This substitution maintains a professional tone while conveying the same meaning.

How does "in the preceding months" differ from "in the following months"?

"In the preceding months" refers to the months before a specific point in time, while "in the following months" indicates the months after a specific point in time. They are opposite in direction.

Is "in the preceding months" interchangeable with "in the previous months"?

Yes, "in the preceding months" and "in the previous months" are generally interchangeable and have the same meaning in most contexts.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

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Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: