late December

USAGE SUMMARY

"late December" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to refer to the latter part of the month of December, typically the last week or so. Example: "We plan to go on vacation in late December." Alternative expressions include "the end of December" and "toward the end of December."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Late December - New Year's Day: Abene music festival.

The Guardian - Travel

For late December.

The New York Times

In late December, Brig.

The New York Times

The movie theater reopened in late December.

The New York Times

By late December, they reached an agreement.

The New York Times - Sports

Peak season runs until late December.

The New York Times - Food

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

Gosu is scheduled to open in late December or January.

Vice

Sweet mildness of the late December day.

The New Yorker

Late-December releases had it hardest.

The Guardian - Film

She only had one scene that late-December day.

The New York Times - Arts

The deadline for those claims is in late December 2003.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When planning events or deadlines, using "late December" provides a general timeframe without pinpointing an exact date, offering flexibility.

Common error

While "late December" is useful, ensure it's specific enough for your audience. If precision is needed, specify a date range (e.g., "December 20-31") instead of relying solely on "late December".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "late December" functions as a temporal adverbial, specifying when something occurs. It adds information about time, indicating that an event or action takes place during the latter part of the month. As Ludwig AI confirms, this expression is grammatically correct and widely accepted.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

17%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "late December" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to denote the final portion of December. As Ludwig AI indicates, its usage spans from News & Media to Scientific contexts, serving to establish a general timeframe. When writing, remember that while it offers flexibility, specifying exact date ranges provides greater clarity. The phrase enjoys high source quality and is deemed correct for general use. Alternative expressions such as "end of December" and "latter part of December" can be used for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

end of December

This alternative directly specifies the conclusion of December.

latter part of December

This is a more descriptive alternative referring to the final portion of the month.

towards the end of December

This alternative expresses the nearing of December's end.

final weeks of December

It emphasizes the last weeks rather than a less specific "late".

closing days of December

This alternative evokes the very last days of the month.

December's end

A more concise way of saying "the end of December".

last days of the year

This alternative expands the reference beyond just December, encompassing the year's conclusion.

near the year's end

It focuses on the proximity to the end of the year.

winter's onset

This alternative relates the timing to the start of the winter season.

around Christmas time

This is a more culturally specific alternative, centered around the Christmas holiday.

FAQs

How can I use "late December" in a sentence?

You can use "late December" to refer to the latter part of December. For example: "The project is expected to be completed in late December".

What are some alternatives to saying "late December"?

You can use alternatives like "end of December", "latter part of December", or "towards the end of December" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "late December" or "the end of December"?

Both "late December" and "the end of December" are acceptable. "Late December" is slightly more general, while "the end of December" can imply the very last days of the month.

What should I consider when using "late December" in formal writing?

In formal writing, "late December" is perfectly acceptable. However, if precise dates are critical, specifying the exact date range (e.g., "December 25-31") provides greater clarity.