next to last

USAGE SUMMARY

"next to last" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It refers to the second to last item or position in a series or sequence. An example sentence using "next to last" could be: "The next to last chapter of the book was the most exciting, with a plot twist that left readers on the edge of their seats."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

And finishing next to last in 2013 would conform with the general direction of their history.

The New York Times - Sports

Last month, Nakamura finished next to last in the Sparkassen Chess Meeting in Dortmund, Germany.

The New York Times

Next, we substitute the new value of for the next to last decoded symbol and calculate the then update.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Next to last?

The New York Times - Sports

"Safety" was next to last.

The New York Times

It's on the next to last page.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

They rank next to last this year.

Los Angeles Times

The next-to-last, Bessie Cohen, died two years ago.

The New York Times

Usually I'm the last or next-to-last man in the leadout to the finish".

The New York Times - Sports

Cleveland won its last N.F.L. championship in 1964, Brown's next-to-last season.

The New York Times - Sports

LeMond was the next-to-last starter and Fignon the last, starting two minutes apart.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing formal documents, consider using the single word "penultimate" as a more concise substitute for "next to last".

Common error

Avoid using "last" when you mean "next to last". "Last" refers to the final item, while "next to last" refers to the item immediately before the final one. For example, "This is the last page" vs. "This is the "next to last" page".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "next to last" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying a noun to indicate that it is the item immediately preceding the final one in a sequence. Ludwig provides examples where it modifies words such as page, night, chapter, and season.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

26%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "next to last" functions as an adjective to denote the item immediately before the final one in a series. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and commonly used across diverse contexts, particularly in news, science, and general reference. Alternatives include "penultimate" and "second to last", though "next to last" maintains wide acceptance. Remember to use this phrase precisely to avoid confusion with "last". The frequency of examples in Ludwig indicates that this phrase is a staple in both formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

second to last

Swaps the order of words while maintaining the identical meaning and grammatical function.

the second last

Slightly alters the phrasing by placing 'second' before 'last'.

penultimate

Replaces the phrase with a single word of equivalent meaning.

one before the final

Rephrases by specifying its position relative to the final element.

immediately preceding the last

Replaces the original with a more descriptive and analytical expression.

last but one

Uses a different construction to convey the same position in a sequence.

the one before the end

Emphasizes the element's position in relation to the end of the sequence.

one from the end

Uses a different structural approach by focusing on distance from the end.

preceding the ultimate

Adopts a formal tone while describing the position before the final one.

antepenultimate

Changes "next to last" with the word that designates the third to last.

FAQs

How can I use "next to last" in a sentence?

You can use "next to last" to describe an item or position that is immediately before the final one in a series. For example, "The "next to last" chapter was the most exciting" or "She finished "next to last" in the race".

What is a synonym for "next to last"?

A direct synonym for "next to last" is "second to last". You can also use "penultimate", although it is a more formal term.

Is it correct to say "the second last" instead of "next to last"?

While "the second last" is understandable, "next to last" is the more common and preferred phrasing. Both are acceptable, but "next to last" is generally clearer and more widely used.

What is the difference between "last" and "next to last"?

"Last" refers to the final item in a sequence, while "next to last" refers to the item immediately preceding the final one. Confusing the two can lead to misunderstandings about which item you are referring to.