last sunday

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "last Sunday" is correct and usable in written English.
You might use it to refer to the past Sunday, for example: I went to the beach last Sunday and had a great time.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Prior to 1996, the out-of-transitions took place on the last Sunday of September.

BMC Public Health

At least before last Sunday.

The New York Times - Magazine

Last Sunday, Canaan celebrated its 81st anniversary.

The New York Times

The real secret uncovered last Sunday?

The New York Times

The BuzzFeed article was posted last Sunday.

The New York Times

I sent a Spaniard packing last Sunday.

Independent

Last Sunday morning, Lord, Lord, Lord.

The New Yorker

I thought of this often last Sunday.

Independent

Lota came up last Sunday — 18th?

The New Yorker

He died last Sunday at 84.

The New York Times - Sports

The main suspect was arrested last Sunday.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "last Sunday", ensure the context is clear to avoid ambiguity. If there's potential confusion, specify the date or event associated with that Sunday.

Common error

Avoid using "last Sunday" without considering the reader's timezone or frame of reference. If writing for an international audience, providing the specific date clarifies which Sunday you're referencing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "last Sunday" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause by specifying the time of an action or event. It provides a temporal reference point, indicating that something occurred on the Sunday immediately preceding the current day. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Academia

11%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "last Sunday" is a common and grammatically correct way to refer to the Sunday immediately preceding the current day. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used in various contexts, particularly in news and media, as well as academia. When using this phrase, ensure clarity and consider the audience's frame of reference to prevent any potential ambiguity. While alternatives like "previous Sunday" or specifying the exact date can be used, "last Sunday" remains a straightforward and effective choice for temporal reference.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Sunday the [date]

More specific using the exact date of the Sunday.

previous Sunday

Replaces "last" with "previous", maintaining the meaning of the Sunday immediately before the present one.

the Sunday before

Emphasizes the order of events, referring to the Sunday preceding the current date.

the Sunday just passed

Highlights that the Sunday has recently occurred.

that past Sunday

Referring to a Sunday already known in the context.

Sunday gone by

An informal way of saying "last Sunday".

on Sunday last week

Adds extra specification around the timing to emphasize it was definitely the past Sunday.

a week ago Sunday

Specifies that the Sunday being referred to was exactly one week prior.

the Sunday a week prior

More formal way to specify a past Sunday.

Sunday last

An older, less common phrasing for "last Sunday".

FAQs

How to use "last Sunday" in a sentence?

You can use "last Sunday" to refer to a specific Sunday in the past, such as, "I went to the park "last Sunday"" or "The event took place "last Sunday"."

What can I say instead of "last Sunday"?

You can use alternatives like "previous Sunday", "the Sunday before", or "a week ago Sunday" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "this past Sunday" instead of "last Sunday"?

Yes, "this past Sunday" is another way to say ""last Sunday"". Both phrases are acceptable and refer to the Sunday immediately preceding the present day.

How do I specify a Sunday that was more than a week ago if I don't want to use "last Sunday"?

To specify a Sunday further in the past, you can use phrases like "on Sunday, July 20th" or "the Sunday of that week". Providing the specific date removes any ambiguity.