last august

USAGE SUMMARY

"last August" is correct and usable in written English and is used to refer to the month of August in the previous year.
For example, "We took a trip to the beach last August and it was so much fun."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

Last August, the A.C.L.U.

The New Yorker

She died last August.

The New York Times - Sports

He married last August.

The New York Times - Sports

The news broke last August.

The New York Times

help last August.

The New York Times

Schwarz last August.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

I haven't gambled since last August.

Independent

That's its highest rate since last August.

The Guardian - Business

Company's stock down 10% since last August.

Forbes

Shares flat since last August.

Forbes

Its shares have risen 37% since last August.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about events in "last August", ensure the context clearly indicates which year you are referring to, especially if the document covers multiple years. This prevents ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using present or future tenses when describing events that occurred in "last August". Use past simple or past continuous tenses to accurately reflect the time frame.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "last August" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying when an event occurred. Ludwig indicates that it is grammatically correct and commonly used to pinpoint an action or state in the past.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Sports

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Science

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "last August" is a common and grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to specify the month of August in the preceding year. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness. It is versatile enough to be used in news reporting, sports commentary, business communications, and academic writing. When using this phrase, ensure that the context makes the year clear to avoid ambiguity. Alternative phrases such as "August of last year" and "the previous August" can also be used.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

August of last year

Rephrases the original by changing the word order without altering the meaning.

the previous August

Uses "previous" instead of "last" to denote the same time period.

August a year ago

Expresses the time frame using "a year ago", providing a slightly more informal tone.

that August

Refers to August in a context where the year is already established.

the August before this one

Emphasizes the August preceding the current one, useful for clarity.

August of the past year

A more formal alternative to "last August", indicating the same period.

the August just gone

A British English alternative meaning "last August".

in August of the preceding year

A highly formal version indicating the same August of the year before the current one.

the most recent August

Highlights that it's the August immediately before the current date.

August of the year before

Explicitly states the time frame as the August of the year directly preceding the present year.

FAQs

How can I use "last August" in a sentence?

You can use "last August" to specify an event that happened in August of the previous year. For instance, "The conference took place "last August" in New York".

What's another way to say "last August"?

Alternatives include "August of last year", "the previous August", or "August a year ago", depending on the context and desired formality.

Is it necessary to specify the year when using "last August"?

If the context doesn't make it clear which year you're referring to, it's best to specify the year to avoid confusion. For example, "Last August, 2024, the company launched its new product".

Can I use "late August" instead of "last August"?

"Late August" refers to the end of August of the current year, while ""last August"" refers to August of the previous year. They are not interchangeable.