in the preceding months

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 Guardian - Books

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

The New Yorker

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

The New Yorker

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

The New Yorker

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

The New York Times - Arts

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

The New York Times - Magazine

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Guardian

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'.

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.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the prior months

Replaces 'preceding' with 'prior', a synonym with a slightly more formal tone.

in the previous months

Substitutes 'preceding' with 'previous', another synonym offering a neutral alternative.

in the last few months

Uses 'last few' to convey a recent period, making it less formal.

during the months before

Changes the structure to 'during the months before', altering the emphasis.

in the months leading up to

Focuses on the period as a lead-up to an event, adding a sense of direction.

in the months beforehand

Replaces 'preceding months' with the adverb 'beforehand', which is shorter and less formal.

over the past months

Uses 'over the past' to indicate a duration, changing the emphasis.

in the earlier months

Substitutes 'preceding' with 'earlier', referring to a time further back.

in the immediately preceding months

Adds 'immediately' to emphasize the recency of the period, increasing formality.

in the months just gone by

Uses a more colloquial phrasing to indicate the recent past, reducing 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.