penultimate plus two

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "penultimate plus two" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the item or position that is two places after the second to last in a sequence. Example: "In the list of participants, the penultimate plus two is Sarah, who will be presenting next."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Palmer presented "The Last of the Masters" as an example of this, as well as "The Variable Man" and The Penultimate Truth, two other post-apocalyptic works by Dick.

Wikipedia

On his penultimate two albums, Old Ideas (2012) and Popular Problems (2014), he revisited old territory with a kinder eye and a lighter touch.

The Guardian - Music

The penultimate murder came two weeks after the ceasefire was declared in 1994.

The Guardian

In the opera's penultimate scene, the two blissfully glide off in a spaceship.

The New York Times - Arts

But the New York boys (which is chiefly Phil Leotardo, played by Frank Vincent) have been closing in, and last week - in the penultimate episode - two of Tony's other lieutenants got shot: one dead, one on the brink.

The Guardian

Percy and Simpson led Brazil, the runners-up four years ago, by nine points going into Friday's penultimate two races to decide the top 10.

BBC

e Formation of clamp connection, through which a blue nucleus migrates back to the penultimate cell, while two new septa are formed in the clamp cell and hyphal tip.

Botanical Studies

The penultimate delivery brings two to long-on and Cooke can do no better from the last, leaving Gloucestershire to score 46 for victory and dash Glamorgan's hopes of a place in the last eight.

BBC

The loop between the penultimate two strands of the core FimD β-GF domain is one of the major determinants of the interaction and this feature is comparable to certain interactions of the phosphoribosyl-AMP cyclohydrolase domain (see below).

Biology Direct

ITV would not be drawn on how the storyline between the two plays out, with the penultimate of six episodes to be broadcast this Sunday.

The Guardian

When applied within Domain (γ in Table 4, penultimate column, three last rows), full additivity is finally achieved.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When clarity is paramount, prefer "third from last" or "two after the second to last" over "penultimate plus two" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "penultimate plus two" in contexts where simpler alternatives like "third from last" would suffice. Overly complex phrasing can confuse the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "penultimate plus two" functions as a descriptive term indicating a specific position in a sequence. According to Ludwig, the phrase is usable in written English, indicating grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "penultimate plus two" is grammatically correct but indicates rare usage. Ludwig confirms its grammatical status. It serves to specify an item or position two places after the second to last in a sequence. Given its complexity and the availability of clearer alternatives like "third from last", it's advisable to use simpler phrasing for better communication in most contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Third from last

More direct and commonly used alternative to indicate position.

Two after the second to last

More descriptive and less concise.

Antepenultimate

Formal and less common term for third from the end.

The third closest to the end

Rephrasing using 'closest' to denote proximity to the end.

Following the penultimate

Alternative using the word 'following' to establish sequence.

Two positions beyond the second last

Rephrasing that emphasizes positions.

The item that's two steps after penultimate

More verbose and descriptive, breaking down the meaning.

Last but two removed

More colloquial and less formal.

Two after next-to-last

Alternative phrasing with 'next-to-last'.

The subsequent second position before the end

More technical alternative for formal context.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "penultimate plus two" for better clarity?

Consider using alternatives like "third from last", or "two after the second to last" depending on the context.

Is "penultimate plus two" commonly used in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "penultimate plus two" isn't a common phrase. More direct alternatives like "third from last" are generally preferred for clarity.

What does "penultimate plus two" mean?

It refers to the item or position that is two places after the second to last (penultimate) in a sequence, essentially the third from last.

Which is a better phrase, "penultimate plus two" or "third from last"?

For most contexts, "third from last" is clearer and more widely understood than "penultimate plus two".