last 12 months

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "last 12 months" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the time period that spans the previous year from the current date. Example: "In the last 12 months, our sales have increased significantly."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The last one was in 1989.

The Economist

His record - two cups within six months of his appointment, a domestic treble in his first full season, a second title in 2005 and reaching the last 16 of the Champions League - set the context for a rueful but masterfully understated parting comment: "I'm sure those people who look at the facts will say that during a period of downsizing, I was reasonably successful".

The Guardian - Sport

The order book was down slightly at £3.6bn from the last update in June but well ahead of the £3.3bn reported this time last year.

The Guardian - Business

Scheduled to make the 1,492km 9277 miles) journey every day except Christmas Day, the A320 plane has seen passengers delayed for as little as two minutes and as long as 12 hours and 18 minutes.

The Guardian - Money

Last year, during David Cameron's trip to Beijing, the same paper announced that Britain was "just an old European country apt [that is, suitable] for travel and study".

The Guardian - Opinion

What happened four months ago is forgotten, whether that's good, bad or indifferent.

The Guardian - Sport

Referred to in court as D, she entered a not guilty plea to a charge of intimidation last week while wearing a niqab after the judge backed down from a previous decision that she would have to show her face to be properly identified.

The Guardian

As a result, the country lost a further 21 positions in the policy evaluation compared to last year, thus replacing Canada as the worst-performing industrial country".

The Guardian

"Scoring is not up, but injuries are up," Tallon said of the current rule last week.

The New York Times

Since last July the state has opted to use just one massive dose of the sedative pentobarbital as its lethal injection, instead of a cocktail of three different drugs.

The Guardian

Last summer the Electoral Commission said 7.5 million eligible voters were not registered, with poor, black and young people least likely to be on the electoral roll.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "last 12 months", ensure the context clearly defines the starting point of the period being referenced. For example, specify "from July 2024 to June 2025" if needed.

Common error

Avoid using "last 12 months" with future tense verbs. This phrase refers to a period that has already passed relative to a specific reference point. Use past or present perfect tenses to maintain clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "last 12 months" functions as an adverbial phrase specifying a time period. It modifies a verb or clause by indicating the duration over which an action or state occurred. Although no examples are present, this determination is based on the phrase's composition and standard usage.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "last 12 months" serves as an adverbial phrase denoting a specific time frame, equivalent to the past year. Though Ludwig has no examples, it's deemed grammatically correct and usable in various contexts. Alternatives include ""past year"" and "previous year". When employing "last 12 months", clarity is paramount to prevent ambiguity, especially regarding the starting point of the time frame. Typical mistakes involve misuse with future tenses. The phrase sees broad applicability across neutral registers, fulfilling the purpose of defining the period in which an event happens.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

past year

Replaces "last 12 months" with a simpler term for the same duration.

previous year

Uses "previous" instead of "last" for a more formal tone.

recent year

Emphasizes the recency of the time period.

last year

Shortened version implying the immediately preceding year.

the preceding 365 days

More specific and formal, using the exact number of days.

the past 365 days

Similar to the above, but using "past" instead of "preceding".

over the last year

Adds "over" to specify a period spanning the year.

in the past year

Similar to "over the last year", indicating a time frame.

during the last year

Focuses on events occurring within the specified year.

the year prior

A more concise way of saying "the previous year".

FAQs

How do I use "last 12 months" in a sentence?

Use "last 12 months" to refer to the period covering the previous year from a specific date. For example, "Our company's revenue has increased by 20% in the "past year"".

What can I say instead of "last 12 months"?

You can use alternatives like ""past year"", "previous year", or "recent year" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "in the last 12 months" or "over the last 12 months"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct and can be used interchangeably. For example, "In the "past year", we have launched several new products" and "Over the "past year", we have seen significant growth in our customer base" are both acceptable.

What's the difference between "last 12 months" and "last year"?

"Last 12 months" refers to a rolling 12-month period ending at a certain point, while "last year" typically refers to the specific calendar year immediately preceding the current one. For example, if today is August 4, 2025, "last 12 months" refers to August 2024 - July 2025, while "last year" refers to the year 2024.