last but one

USAGE SUMMARY

"last but one" is correct and usable in written English.
It typically means the second-to-last item in a list, and is used in contrast with "last" which typically means the actual last item in a list. Example: I want to visit the last but one country I visited on my world tour.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

Six months on Bolton are last but one in the league and Lee has changed virtually the entire backroom staff that was responsible for much of Allardyce's success.

The Guardian - Sport

His sister is quoted as saying her brother paid his last but one visit to the Palace last week before he was caught early on Friday morning.

The Guardian

This upcoming Series C round will likely be the last but one round of funding for Vizury before it lists on an exchange in about an year's time.

TechCrunch

The diagramed deal was the last but one that they played in the Blue Ribbons.

The New York Times

I sat in the last but one seat, the emergency exit for extra leg-room.

The Guardian - Books

He was running four over now, and sitting last but one in the entire field.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

For those who might be missing him, ex-President Obama appears on the last-but-one episode of Pod Save America.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

To paraphrase Paul Graham's on-stage Office Hours at the last-but-one TC Disrupt, "Competing with Google.

TechCrunch

Here we delete the 36th and last-but-one keywords from the crate.

Harvard University

One was welded to the last turn and the other was welded to the last-but-one turn.

Cryogenics

When plotted (see Figure 14) the third and last-but-one points are drawn as limits rather than errors.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "last but one" when you need to clearly indicate the item or element that precedes the final one in a sequence or list. It avoids ambiguity compared to less precise alternatives.

Common error

Avoid using "last but one" when you actually mean the very last item. Double-check your context to ensure you are referring to the second-to-last item, not the ultimate one. If you mean the ultimate one just use "last".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "last but one" functions as an adjective describing a noun, indicating that the noun is the second to last in a sequence or list. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in English, offering examples from various sources.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

31%

Academia

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "last but one" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to indicate the second to last item in a sequence, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It functions as an adjective for specifying position and maintains a neutral register suitable for various contexts. While alternatives like "penultimate" exist, "last but one" offers clarity and directness. Remember to use it accurately, ensuring you intend to refer to the second-to-last item, not the final one.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

penultimate

Formal synonym, emphasizing position immediately before the last.

second to last

More explicit and common way of expressing the same concept.

next to last

Directly indicates the item preceding the final one.

one from the end

Describes position by proximity to the end of the sequence.

immediately before the last

Emphasizes the item's immediate position before the final one.

the item before the final one

Expanded form emphasizing the position relative to the end.

the preceding to the ultimate

Formal, less common way of describing the item's position.

antepenultimate

Refers to the third to last, less common but applicable when extending the logic.

second from the top (in a list)

Specifies the context of a list and counts from the top.

the almost final

Informal; highlights proximity to the end but is less precise.

FAQs

How can I use "last but one" in a sentence?

You can use "last but one" to refer to the second to last item in a sequence. For example, "The "last but one" chapter was the most exciting."

What's a more formal alternative to "last but one"?

A more formal alternative to "last but one" is "penultimate". It carries the same meaning but is more commonly found in academic or literary contexts.

Is it correct to say "last but not least" instead of "last but one"?

"Last but not least" is used to emphasize the importance of the final item in a list, while "last but one" refers to the item immediately before the last. They are not interchangeable.

Can I use "second to last" instead of "last but one"?

Yes, "second to last" is a perfectly acceptable and commonly used alternative to "last but one", conveying the same meaning.