past three months

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "past three months" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the time period that has occurred before the current date, specifically the last three months. Example: "In the past three months, we have seen significant improvements in our sales figures."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

What happened four months ago is forgotten, whether that's good, bad or indifferent.

The Guardian - Sport

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

The New York Times

Over the past decade, Kazakhs have experienced a steady reduction in individual rights.

The Guardian

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

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

This was the second time in seven months that Hill has come close to the death chamber: last July he was spared by just 90 minutes and the experience was repeated on Tuesday night with just 30 minutes to go.

The Guardian

How things have changed in the last 18 months.

The Guardian

Congress is currently considering a bill increasing the minimum wage to $10.10 over the next three years.

The Economist

The same can't be said, though, of the boom of the past decade.

The Economist

But the fact that more than fifteen per cent of personal consumption expenditures now go to medical care, when in 1930 only three per cent of personal consumption did, isn't a reflection of frivolity, and that's not going to change any time soon.

The Economist

In an indication of what simmering tensions could bring if unleashed, a mob of Christian youths in Jos's Tina neighbourhood set up a roadblock yesterday where they attacked at least three Muslim residents, beating one into a coma.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "past three months", ensure the context clearly indicates the starting point and ending point of the period being referred to. This avoids ambiguity and ensures clear communication.

Common error

Avoid using "past three months" with verbs in the future tense. It refers to a period that has already occurred, so use past or present perfect tenses to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "past three months" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause by specifying a timeframe. It indicates when something happened or was the case, providing temporal context. As confirmed by Ludwig, it’s grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "past three months" is a grammatically correct and usable expression for indicating a recent period of time. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. While relatively uncommon compared to alternatives like "last three months", it serves to specify a duration leading up to the present, particularly in contexts like news reporting where establishing temporal context is essential. The phrase is considered neutral in register. To enhance clarity, ensure the context clearly identifies the starting and ending points of the timeframe. While acceptable, consider using alternatives like "last quarter" or "recent trimester" depending on the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previous three months

A more formal alternative, emphasizing the immediately preceding three-month period.

prior three months

Similar to 'previous three months' but slightly more formal and less common.

last quarter

Refers to the most recent three-month period, often used in business contexts.

three months prior

Changes the word order, placing emphasis on the duration before the present.

recent trimester

Implies a three-month period, commonly used in academic settings to mark a term.

the preceding months

Refers to the months that came before the current one, covering three months.

last 90 days

Specifies the timeframe more precisely, useful when exactness is needed.

since three months ago

Focuses on the starting point of the period rather than its duration.

past 12 weeks

Uses weeks instead of months to define the period, offering a more granular view.

in the last third of a year

Describes the same period but as a fraction of a year, less direct.

FAQs

How can I use "past three months" in a sentence?

You can use "past three months" to refer to events or trends that have occurred in the recent period. For example, "In the "past three months", the company has launched several new products."

Which is the correct phrase, "last three months" or "past three months"?

Both "last three months" and "past three months" are correct and commonly used, but "last three months" is the more frequent and natural choice in everyday conversation. "Past three months" might be preferred in more formal contexts or when you want to emphasize the duration.

What are some alternatives to "past three months"?

Alternatives include phrases like "last quarter", "recent trimester", or "previous three months", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is there a subtle difference in meaning between "over the past three months" and "in the past three months"?

"Over the past three months" often implies a continuous action or trend occurring throughout the period, while "in the past three months" simply indicates that an event happened at some point during that timeframe. For example, "Over the "past three months", sales have steadily increased" vs. "In the "past three months", we launched a new marketing campaign".