last term

USAGE SUMMARY

"last term" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
Example sentence: Last term, I took a course in Spanish literature.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

His last term ended in November.

The New York Times

Last term he had been on probation.

The New Yorker

His tally for last term: zero.

The Guardian - Sport

Well, that was in your last term.

The Washington Post

So one last term, what else is it?

Yale University

Why the increase in academic flags from last term?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The last term subject(s) must be correctly listed.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Let me jump ahead to the last term.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"I got all A's last term," Rosie reminds her mother.

The New York Times - Books

But within the last term, certainly," he said.

The New York Times

The last term was lackluster; this one is lively.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In political contexts, "last term" clearly refers to the most recent completed period of office for an elected official.

Common error

Avoid confusing "last term" with "latter term". "Last term" refers to the most recent past period, while "latter term" refers to the second of two items or concepts being discussed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "last term" functions primarily as a noun phrase acting as an adverbial modifier of time. Ludwig AI shows it often specifies when something occurred, relating to a past semester, political period, or defined timeframe. It clarifies temporal context within a sentence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

31%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

19%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "last term" is a common and versatile phrase primarily used to indicate a recent, past period, typically in academic, political, or general contexts. According to Ludwig AI, its grammatical function is that of a noun phrase acting as an adverbial modifier of time, serving to set a temporal reference point. The phrase maintains a neutral register but can lean towards formal or professional depending on the situation, and it is observed across many domains like "News & Media", "Science" and "Academia". When using "last term", ensure to provide enough context to prevent ambiguity, especially in academic or political contexts where specificity is crucial.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previous semester

This alternative focuses on academic context, replacing 'term' with 'semester'.

final semester

This phrase indicates the concluding semester of a program.

most recent term

This emphasizes recency compared to just indicating the 'last' one.

preceding term

This suggests the term immediately before the current one.

concluding period

This broadens the context beyond academic terms.

end of tenure

This applies when referring to someone's term in office or employment.

expiration of term

This phrase is more formal and emphasizes the ending of a defined period.

last legislative session

This alternative specifically refers to a term in a legislative body.

ultimate term

This refers to a final period or condition, possibly implying irreversibility.

final stage

This generalizes the concept of 'term' to any concluding stage.

FAQs

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

You can use "last term" to refer to the most recent academic period, like in the sentence, "I got all A's "last term"." or "He was on probation "last term"."

What's the difference between "last term" and "previous term"?

"Last term" and "previous term" are often interchangeable, but "previous term" might be used when comparing multiple terms. For example, "His performance this term is better than his "previous term"."

What are some alternatives to "last term" in an academic setting?

In an academic setting, you can use alternatives like "previous semester", "final semester", or "most recent term" depending on the context.

Is "last term" formal or informal?

"Last term" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the overall tone and register of the writing rather than the phrase itself.