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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
in the preceding months
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE 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
Alternative expressions(20)
is equivalent to
in the wishes of
rapidly thereafter
for the immediate future
Very soon
somewhere later
one week before
at the early time
in the next weeks
during the previous years
it is important to remember
not yet completed
to avoid disruption
in accordance with direction from
Over the course of history
a couple of books before
if not soon
in two days
as excellent as
in a flash
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
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.
News & Media
The places were filled following a thoroughgoing outreach that had taken place in the preceding months.
News & Media
In the preceding months, both their mother, Chrissie, and their aunt Bridie Dolan had died.
News & Media
Neither recalled him being particularly upset about anything in the preceding months.
News & Media
The artistic material generated in the preceding months was as tailored as it was vast.
News & Media
They told me Khamis Qaddafi's soldiers had taken over the entire area in the preceding months.
News & Media
In the preceding months, each pixel in "The Unicorn in Captivity" had been crunched through many billions of calculations.
News & Media
That could be a sign that some of the momentum "GMA" had built up in the preceding months may be wearing off.
News & Media
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
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
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
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'.
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.
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(6)
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.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
86%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested