last time was

USAGE SUMMARY

"last time was" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to refer to a specific instance or occurrence in the past. For example, "Last time was the first time I had gone snowboarding."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The last time was last year, toward the end of the summer.

The New Yorker

(The last time was 1974).

The New York Times

The last time was in 1979.

The New York Times

The last time was five years ago.

The New Yorker

Last time was..

The Guardian - Sport

The last time was Darfur.

The Guardian - Opinion

The last time was 2011.

The Guardian

The last time was on January 26th 1700.

The Economist

The last time was 40 years ago.

The Washington Post

The last time was in November 2010.

The New York Times - Magazine

The last time was in March.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "last time was" to provide context by referring to a specific, previous event, ensuring clarity for your audience. For example, "The "last time was" when we discussed project milestones, so let's review progress since then."

Common error

Avoid using "last time was" without specifying what happened or what you are comparing it to. For example, instead of saying "The "last time was" difficult", clarify: "The "last time was" difficult because of the unforeseen technical challenges."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "last time was" functions as an adverbial phrase or clause opener, setting a temporal context by referring to a specific event or moment in the past. This is supported by Ludwig's examples, which show it introducing details about past experiences or occurrences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66.1%

Academia

11.9%

Science

8.5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5.1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "last time was" is a versatile expression used to refer to a specific past event, serving as a temporal marker to provide context. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and identifies it as a commonly used phrase across diverse domains, especially in News & Media and Academia. While maintaining a neutral register, it effectively sets the stage for sharing information related to that prior instance. For more descriptive alternatives, consider options like "previously it happened" or "on the last occasion". When using the phrase, ensure that the comparison or reference is clear to prevent ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that last instance

Adds emphasis on a specific instance in the past.

the most recent occurrence

Emphasizes the recency of the event.

on the last occasion

Uses "occasion" instead of "time", adding a slightly more formal tone.

the prior instance

Substitutes "time" with "instance" and uses "prior" for "last", making it slightly more formal.

previously it happened

Rephrases the idea using "previously" to denote a past occurrence.

the preceding event

Replaces "time" with "event", focusing on the occurrence itself.

the previous episode

Uses "episode" to refer to a specific event in a series.

before that, it happened

Breaks down the phrase to highlight the sequence of events.

earlier, it happened

Simplifies the structure while maintaining the meaning.

the concluding period

More formal and less frequently used variant.

FAQs

How can I use "last time was" in a sentence?

You can use "last time was" to refer back to a specific instance in the past. For example, "The "last time was" when we met in New York."

What phrases are similar to "last time was"?

Similar phrases include "previously it happened", "on the last occasion", and "the most recent occurrence".

Is it correct to say "the last time was when"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. This phrase introduces additional information about a prior event.

What is the difference between "last time was" and "previously"?

"Last time was" specifically refers to a singular, past instance, whereas "previously" refers to something that occurred at an earlier or former time.