informed last minute

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "informed last minute" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to receiving information or updates very close to a deadline or event. Example: "I was informed last minute about the meeting change, which made it difficult to adjust my schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Some believed that they had not been sufficiently consulted in planning the trainings, giving an example of being informed last minute about workshops.

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Reviewers ready to board the train down to the company's Truro home The Asylum to see Midnight's Pumpkin were informed last-minute that "Kneehigh see it more as an event-cum-party, and not really something they feel it is appropriate to review as theatre.

Independent

Mr Paisley was not informed until the last minute of Mr Robinson's appearance.

The Economist

The organisers of the Open Games had to find some venues at short notice after the Russian LGBT Sport Federation was informed at the last minute that some of its bookings had been cancelled.

Huffington Post

It seems, according to the data, that these individuals have a greater influence over members of their own family than over the rest of the villagers, who frequently complained that they were only informed at the last minute about vaccination sessions being held in their village or about the need to procure a vaccination booklet during an ANC.

BMC International Health and Human Rights

Make sure that everybody is informed of any last minute changes.

WikiHow

Knowing you'd love nothing more than to get a leg up over the guy in the next cubicle, we here at The New York Times have done a bit of number crunching to inform your last-minute choices.

The New York Times

A central mystery is why Mr. Clinton would keep Ms. Dozoretz informed while failing until the last minute to notify the Justice Department he was considering a pardon.

The New York Times

That enables ticket sites to sell up to the last minute and to inform you before you leave home if a show is sold out.

The New York Times - Tech

You can also ask your sales agent to inform you about the cruise lines last minute cruise deals.

WikiHow

At the last minute, he says, he was informed that the police in West Bengal would block his arrival.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "informed last minute", ensure the context clearly indicates the negative impact or inconvenience caused by the late notification. This enhances the reader's understanding of the situation's urgency or challenge.

Common error

Avoid using "informed last minute" when the late notification has no significant consequence. Overusing it can dilute its impact and make your writing sound unnecessarily dramatic. If being informed late had no effect, simply state when you were informed without the added emphasis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "informed last minute" functions as a passive construction indicating when someone received information. It suggests a temporal relationship, emphasizing the immediacy of the notification before a relevant event or deadline. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Wiki

33%

Science

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "informed last minute" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate that someone received information shortly before a deadline or event. While generally neutral to informal in register, its use is widespread across various sources like News & Media, Science, and Wiki articles. As Ludwig AI points out, it accurately conveys the timing of information delivery with an emphasis on lateness and potential inconvenience. When using this phrase, consider the impact of the late notification and ensure your tone matches the context for clarity and effectiveness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

notified at the eleventh hour

Emphasizes the extreme lateness of the notification.

notified at the last moment

Highlights the immediacy of when the information was conveyed.

informed at short notice

Focuses on the brevity of the warning period.

told at the last second

Implies the information was received just before an event.

made aware just in time

Indicates the information arrived with barely enough time to react.

apprised at the tail end

Suggests the information was given towards the conclusion or end of something.

brought up to speed belatedly

Implies a delay in providing necessary information.

briefed with minimal warning

Highlights the lack of preparation time given.

alerted with almost no notice

Underscores the insufficient amount of notification provided.

updated just before the deadline

Focuses on being informed very close to a cutoff point.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "informed last minute" in a sentence?

Use "informed last minute" to emphasize a lack of preparation time due to receiving information shortly before a deadline. For example: "I was informed last minute about the project changes, which made it difficult to meet the deadline".

Are there more formal alternatives to "informed last minute"?

Yes, in more formal contexts, you could use phrases like "notified at the eleventh hour" or "apprised at the tail end" to convey a similar meaning with a more sophisticated tone.

What's the difference between "informed last minute" and "informed at short notice"?

"Informed last minute" typically suggests an even shorter notification period than "informed at short notice". The former implies virtually no time to prepare, while the latter indicates limited, but still some, preparation time.

Is it appropriate to use "informed last minute" in professional communication?

It can be, especially when highlighting the impact of a delayed notification on your ability to perform a task. However, consider the tone of your communication and whether a more formal alternative, like "briefed with minimal warning", might be more suitable.