many months ago

USAGE SUMMARY

"many months ago" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to refer to a specific period in the past, such as in the following example: "Many months ago, I had a plan to travel to Europe this summer, but now I'm not able to go."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Many months ago.

The New York Times

"I knew that Ferguson was retiring many months ago," he said.

Independent

Although the document was finished many months ago, it has not been released.

The New York Times

Warner's deal with YouTube expired "many months ago," a spokesman for Warner, Will Tanous, confirmed.

The New York Times

We started looking for someone to replace him [Mortier] many months ago," Cristóbal said.

The Guardian

I think there was an opportunity to deal with this many months ago," he said.

The Guardian

Vatican newspaper says Benedict made his decision to resign "many months ago" after his trip to Mexico & Cuba March 2012.

The New York Times

It was many months ago now when he first started bringing Harry Potter books into the office.

The Guardian - Money

Was this why God had let her survive that first Rangers game of ours, so many months ago?

The New Yorker

Not many months ago, Major Buckingham was serving in the United States with the 101st Airborne Division.

The New York Times

Once the ropes have been learnt is it possible to pick up where you left off many months ago?

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing events that occurred "many months ago", provide additional context if possible. For instance, instead of just stating "Many months ago, the project started", consider adding specifics like "Many months ago, in early spring, the project started".

Common error

Avoid using "many months ago" without any other temporal reference if precision is needed. If the exact timeframe is relevant, specify the months or season to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of "many months ago", use "approximately six months ago" or "in the autumn of last year".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "many months ago" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb by indicating when an action or event occurred. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

8%

Academia

6%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "many months ago" is a common and grammatically sound way to refer to a period in the recent past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is perfectly acceptable in written English. It functions as an adverbial phrase, providing context about when an event occurred. While versatile across different registers, it is most frequently found in news and media, as well as formal business contexts. When using this phrase, consider adding further details for clarity, and be mindful of situations where a more precise timeframe is needed. Alternatives like "several months ago" or "months earlier" offer similar meanings with slight variations in formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

months earlier

A more concise way to express the same idea, suitable for informal contexts.

several months prior

Replaces "ago" with "prior", focusing on a point of reference in the past.

quite a few months ago

Adds emphasis to the duration.

some months back

An informal alternative, replacing "ago" with "back".

a number of months back

Similar to "some months back" but slightly more emphatic.

a few months past

Emphasizes the passing of time.

in the preceding months

A more formal way to say before recent months.

in the months preceding

Highlights events leading up to a specific point in time.

prior to some months

A more formal and less common phrasing.

before some months had passed

Emphasizes the duration before an event.

FAQs

How can I use "many months ago" in a sentence?

Use "many months ago" to indicate an unspecified but relatively long period in the past. For example: "Many months ago, we decided to postpone the event."

What phrases are similar to "many months ago"?

Alternatives include "several months ago", "months earlier", or "some months back", depending on the desired level of formality.

Is it more appropriate to say "many months ago" or "a lot of months ago"?

"Many months ago" is generally considered more appropriate and grammatically correct than "a lot of months ago", which is less formal. "Many months ago" is a more standard and widely accepted expression.

How can I make "many months ago" more specific?

To be more specific, replace "many months ago" with a more precise timeframe, such as "six months ago", "in the spring", or "during the first quarter of last year".