last month

USAGE SUMMARY

"last month" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the previous calendar month. For example, "I moved to a new city last month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

LAST month Pfc.

The New York Times

rescue package announced last month.

Science Magazine

What went wrong last month?

Science Magazine

Right Pic: Last month.

Los Angeles Times

panel last month.

Los Angeles Times

Last month, Hanks..

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

*Last month.

BMC Public Health

But last month was last month".

The New York Times - Sports

Two others last month".

The New Yorker

Last month, aggrieved….

The New Yorker

combined last month.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "last month", ensure the context is clear to avoid ambiguity, especially when discussing events across multiple months. For example, if writing on July 5th, "last month" refers to June.

Common error

Avoid using "last month" with future tense verbs. "I will go last month" is incorrect; use past tense: "I went last month."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "last month" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb by specifying when an action occurred. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to place an event or state in the immediate past, specifically the calendar month preceding the present one.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Science

16%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "last month" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to specify the month immediately preceding the current one. As Ludwig AI underlines, it is versatile and appropriate for various contexts, particularly in news, media, and scientific writing. The phrase's frequency and authoritative sources reflect its widespread acceptance and clear meaning. While alternatives like "previous month" and "a month ago" exist, "last month" remains a straightforward and widely understood choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previous month

Replaces "last" with "previous", offering a slightly more formal tone while retaining the same meaning.

prior month

Replaces "last" with "prior", providing a more formal synonym.

the month before

Uses a prepositional phrase to specify the time frame, providing a more descriptive alternative.

the preceding month

Emphasizes the sequential relationship to the current month, offering a more formal alternative.

a month ago

Specifies the time frame in terms of duration from the present, rather than a relative designation.

one month prior

Similar to "a month ago" but with a slightly more formal tone, emphasizing the temporal distance.

the month that just passed

Descriptively indicates the month immediately before the current one, focusing on its recent conclusion.

month of the past

A more descriptive and less common way to refer to the month preceding the current one.

earlier month

A broader term that might require additional context to specify it refers to the immediately preceding month.

month gone by

A somewhat poetic or informal way to refer to the previous month, emphasizing the passage of time.

FAQs

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

Use "last month" to refer to the month immediately preceding the current one. For example, "I visited Paris last month" indicates that you visited Paris in the month before this one.

What is another way to say "last month"?

Alternatives to "last month" include "previous month", "the month before", or "a month ago", depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

Is it correct to say "the last month" instead of "last month"?

While "the last month" isn't grammatically incorrect, it is less common and can sometimes imply a different meaning, such as the final month of a defined period. "Last month" is generally the preferred and more straightforward way to refer to the preceding month.

What's the difference between "last month" and "earlier this month"?

"Last month" refers to the entire previous month, while "earlier this month" refers to a period within the current month that has already passed. For example, if it's July 15th, "earlier this month" refers to July 1st to July 14th.