last Thursday

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "last Thursday" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the Thursday that occurred most recently before the current day. Example: "We had a meeting last Thursday to discuss the upcoming project deadlines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Last Thursday, the N.Y.

The New Yorker

Last Thursday (Mar.

The New Yorker

Wore it last Thursday.

The New York Times

Remember last Thursday in Atlanta?

The New York Times - Sports

It was Tuesday, not last Thursday.

The New York Times

Mandela passed away, aged 95, last Thursday.

Independent

Last Thursday, parks officials gave a tour.

The New York Times

(It made its debut last Thursday).

The New York Times - Arts

Governor Chafee signed the legislation last Thursday.

The New York Times

Mr. Wallis, 60, was arrested last Thursday.

The New York Times

"O.K., last Thursday night," the Dybbuk said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "last Thursday", ensure that the context clearly establishes the time frame, especially if discussing events spanning multiple weeks. Use it to denote the most recent Thursday relative to the time of writing or speaking.

Common error

Avoid using "last Thursday" when the timeframe is unclear or could be misinterpreted, particularly in asynchronous communication like emails. Provide the date or day of the week if precision is needed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "last Thursday" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying when an event occurred. As Ludwig AI shows, it's widely used in various contexts to provide a temporal reference point.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academic

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "last Thursday" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to denote the Thursday immediately preceding the present day. According to Ludwig AI, its primary context is in news and media. While generally clear, ambiguity can arise, so consider providing a specific date for clarity, especially in formal communications. Using alternatives like "the "previous Thursday"" can sometimes enhance clarity as well.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the previous Thursday

Uses a different adjective to specify the Thursday before the current day.

Thursday last week

Reorders the words to place "Thursday" first, followed by "last week".

on Thursday last

Uses "last" as an adjective after "Thursday".

the Thursday before

Emphasizes the order of events, focusing on what preceded the present.

Thursday gone by

A more archaic or poetic way to refer to a past Thursday.

the Thursday just past

Highlights the recency of the Thursday in question.

a week ago Thursday

Specifies the day by indicating it was one week prior.

last week's Thursday

Uses a possessive form to describe the Thursday of the previous week.

the most recent Thursday

Highlights the immediacy of the day being referenced.

the Thursday prior to today

A more formal and explicit way to refer to the day.

FAQs

How do I use "last Thursday" in a sentence?

Use "last Thursday" to refer to the Thursday immediately before the current day. For example, "I met with the team "last Thursday" to discuss the project progress."

What's an alternative to saying "last Thursday"?

You can use phrases like "the "previous Thursday"" or "Thursday of last week" as alternatives to "last Thursday."

Is it always clear what "last Thursday" refers to?

While generally understood, "last Thursday" can be ambiguous if the context is unclear or if there's a possibility of misinterpretation. Providing the exact date can eliminate confusion.

When should I avoid using "last Thursday"?

Avoid using "last Thursday" in situations where the time reference needs to be precise, such as in legal documents or formal reports. Use the specific date instead to prevent ambiguity.