last may

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "last May" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to the month of May in the previous year or the most recent May that has passed. Example: "We had a wonderful vacation in Hawaii last May."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Social Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

@huffpostgay #MyQueerFamily our rainbow wedding last may at central park.

Huffington Post

It was May 2000, not last May.

The New York Times

Last May, they faced a new change.

The New York Times

Last May, the Texans released him.

The New York Times - Sports

And last May, they became engaged.

The New York Times

Last May was a low point.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

"Not since last May," Smith said.

The New Yorker

(Steve Ruark, 80 trips to Dover since last May).

The New York Times

He passed away last May.

The New Yorker

Derrick turned forty-seven last May.

The New Yorker

Pfizer cut 6,000 jobs last May.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about events that occurred in May of the previous year, "last May" is a clear and concise choice. It is widely understood and suitable for most contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "last May" to refer to an upcoming May. This phrase always implies a past date. To refer to a future May, specify the year or use "next May".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "last May" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb by specifying when an action occurred. Ludwig AI examples show it's used to pinpoint events in the past, such as "our rainbow wedding <span class="lh">last may at central park" or "Last May, the Texans released him."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

92%

Social Media

4%

Science

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "last May" is a common and grammatically correct way to refer to the month of May in the preceding year. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage spans diverse contexts, but is particularly prevalent in News & Media sources, where it is used to provide temporal anchoring for events. While alternatives like "the previous May" exist, "last May" is concise and widely understood. To avoid confusion, be sure not to use "last May" when referring to a future date. By following these guidelines, writers can effectively and accurately use the phrase "last May" in their writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

May of last year

Rephrases the time reference with a slightly different word order.

the previous May

Uses "previous" instead of "last" to indicate the preceding May.

May a year ago

Indicates the time period using "a year ago" for a more conversational tone.

the May before this one

Emphasizes the sequential relationship between the months.

the May just gone

Uses "just gone" to denote the recent passing of the month of May.

in May of the past year

More formal way of saying "last May".

the May that just ended

Focuses on the completion of the month.

the May before now

Uses "before now" to refer to a past time.

the May in the year prior

Offers a formal and precise way of specifying the time.

May of the year before

Similar to "May of last year" but uses the phrase "year before".

FAQs

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

"Last May" is used to refer to the month of May of the previous year. For example, "I visited Paris last May" indicates that you visited Paris in May of the year before the current year.

What can I say instead of "last May"?

You can use alternatives like "the previous May", "May of last year", or "May a year ago" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "this last May"?

While understandable, "this last May" can be redundant. It's generally clearer to simply use "last May" to refer to the most recent May.

What's the difference between "last May" and "next May"?

"Last May" refers to the May of the previous year, while "next May" refers to the May of the coming year. They indicate opposite time frames.