last years

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "last years" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically intended to refer to a period of time that includes the most recent years, but the correct expression would be "the last few years" or "the past years." Example: "In the last few years, we have seen significant changes in technology."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The last one was in 1989.

The Economist

The order book was down slightly at £3.6bn from the last update in June but well ahead of the £3.3bn reported this time last year.

The Guardian - Business

Last year, during David Cameron's trip to Beijing, the same paper announced that Britain was "just an old European country apt [that is, suitable] for travel and study".

The Guardian - Opinion

Referred to in court as D, she entered a not guilty plea to a charge of intimidation last week while wearing a niqab after the judge backed down from a previous decision that she would have to show her face to be properly identified.

The Guardian

As a result, the country lost a further 21 positions in the policy evaluation compared to last year, thus replacing Canada as the worst-performing industrial country".

The Guardian

Specifically, the Nasdaq excludes anyone who was employed the company in the past three years.

The New York Times

"Scoring is not up, but injuries are up," Tallon said of the current rule last week.

The New York Times

Since last July the state has opted to use just one massive dose of the sedative pentobarbital as its lethal injection, instead of a cocktail of three different drugs.

The Guardian

Last summer the Electoral Commission said 7.5 million eligible voters were not registered, with poor, black and young people least likely to be on the electoral roll.

The Guardian

"Five years ago I stood here and said we had made history here in Brighton," Lucas said to loud cheers inside the Brighton Centre conference venue.

The Guardian

The shares have underperformed the market by 6% in the last three months and now trade at a discount to the oil service peers.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a period covering multiple recent years, use phrases like "the past few years" or "recent years" instead of "last years".

Common error

Avoid using "last years" as it's grammatically incorrect for denoting a period. Always use a quantifier or adjective, such as "last few years" or "recent years".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "last years" is intended to function as a determiner followed by a noun, aiming to specify a time period encompassing recent years. However, it fails to achieve this grammatically correct function, and Ludwig confirms its incorrect usage.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "last years" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in standard written English. As Ludwig's analysis shows, there are no examples of its correct usage. Instead, it's advisable to use phrases like "the past few years", "the last few years", or "recent years" to accurately and effectively convey the intended meaning. These alternatives ensure grammatical correctness and clarity in communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

The past few years

Uses a more specific quantifier, 'few', to indicate a short period.

The last few years

Uses a more specific quantifier, 'few', to indicate a short recent period.

Recent years

Emphasizes the recency of the period.

The preceding years

Highlights the period that came before the present.

The previous years

Refers to years that have already occurred.

The years gone by

A more idiomatic way of referring to past years.

The bygone years

Evokes a sense of nostalgia when referring to years that have passed.

The immediately preceding years

Focuses specifically on the years directly before the current one.

The closing years

Refers to the final years of a period.

The past several years

Uses a less specific quantifier, 'several', to refer to a longer period.

FAQs

What is the correct way to refer to a period including recent years?

Instead of "last years", use phrases like "the past few years", "the last few years", or "recent years". These alternatives are grammatically correct and widely accepted.

Why is "last years" considered grammatically incorrect?

The phrase "last years" lacks a determiner or quantifier to specify the number of years being referred to, making it sound incomplete. Grammatically accepted alternatives provide this clarity.

Are there specific contexts where "last years" might be acceptable?

No, "last years" is generally considered incorrect in standard written English. It's always better to use more precise and grammatically correct alternatives like "the past few years" or "recent years".

What are some formal alternatives to "last years"?

For more formal contexts, consider using phrases such as "the preceding years" or "the previous years" instead of the incorrect "last years".