past month

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "past month" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It refers to the time period that has just passed, specifically the previous month. Example: "I have been working hard on this project for the past month and I am finally seeing progress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

This past month has been especially violent.

The New York Times

In the past month everything has changed.

The Guardian - Sport

That has changed over the past month.

The New York Times - Sports

In the past month it has declined by about 6%.

The Economist

THIS past month I've been agreeing to contracts like crazy.

The New York Times

The past month had been a complete waste.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

The thefts all occurred in the past month.

The New York Times

There have been many revelations this past month.

The New York Times - Sports

In the past month, I have seen him twice.

The New Yorker

During the past month, he added, "it's happened very often".

The New Yorker

Over the past month, the magic has abruptly worn off.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "past month", ensure the context clearly defines what timeframe you are referring to. For instance, if you're writing in July, "past month" refers to June.

Common error

Avoid using "past month" with future tense verbs. "Past month" refers to a completed period, so use past tense verbs to describe events within that timeframe.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "past month" functions primarily as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun, usually to specify a timeframe. Ludwig examples shows that it's used to describe when an action occurred or a state existed. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "past month" is a common and grammatically sound way to refer to the month immediately preceding the present one. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is frequently used across various contexts, especially in News & Media and Science. When using "past month", be precise about the intended timeframe and use it with past tense verbs. While "past month" is interchangeable with phrases like "last month" or "previous month", it's essential to maintain tense consistency and ensure that your sentence clearly conveys the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

last month

A more common and direct synonym, simply indicating the month that preceded the current one.

previous month

Emphasizes the order of the month in sequence, suggesting the one immediately before the current.

prior month

A concise and slightly more formal synonym for "last month" or "previous month".

the month before

Highlights the relative position of the month in time, focusing on its placement prior to the present.

month preceding this one

A more formal and explicit way to refer to the immediately prior month.

month just gone

Emphasizes the recency of the month, highlighting that it has just concluded.

month recently ended

Similar to "month just gone" but with a slightly more formal tone, focusing on the conclusion of the period.

the month gone by

A slightly more idiomatic way to describe a month that has already passed.

earlier month

Suggests a month that occurred at some unspecified time in the past, though still relatively recent.

month that has passed

A more general way to refer to a month in the past, without specifying its relation to the current.

FAQs

How is "past month" different from "last month"?

While often interchangeable, "last month" is more commonly used. "Past month" may sound slightly more formal, but both refer to the month immediately preceding the current one.

Can I use "in the past month" and "over the past month" interchangeably?

Yes, "in the past month" and "over the past month" are generally interchangeable and can be used to indicate that something occurred during the timeframe of the previous month. For example, "The stock has plummeted 51.5% "in the past month"" or "The stock has plummeted 51.5% "over the past month"".

What's the difference between "past month" and "previous months"?

"Past month" refers specifically to the immediately preceding month. "Previous months" refers to multiple months before the current one, indicating a period longer than a single month.

How do I correctly use "past month" in a sentence?

Ensure the sentence reflects events that occurred during the month immediately before the current one. For example, "Sales increased significantly during the "past month" due to the new marketing campaign.".