previous quarter

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "previous quarter" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the quarter of a financial year or calendar year that occurred before the current one. Example: "Our sales have increased significantly compared to the previous quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In the previous quarter, growth was zero.

The New York Times

Previous quarter class schedules linked below.

Columbia University

In the previous quarter, the unit lost $70 million.

The New York Times

Growth was flat in October-December from the previous quarter.

The Guardian - Business

Its market share fell from 68% in the previous quarter.

The Guardian - Tech

Compared with the previous quarter, the economy grew 1.7percentt.

The New York Times

That was up from 68.5percentt in the previous quarter.

The New York Times

In the previous quarter the group had recorded 2.5% growth.

The Guardian - Business

In contrast, the increase the previous quarter was 7percentt.

The New York Times

The loss more than doubled from the previous quarter.

The New York Times

Household consumption rose 0.3percentt from the previous quarter.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing data across different time periods, use "previous quarter" to clearly indicate that you are referring to the quarter immediately before the current one. This ensures clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "previous quarter" when you actually mean "same quarter last year" or another specific period. Always double-check that your timeframe is accurately represented to prevent misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "previous quarter" functions as a noun phrase or an adjectival phrase modifying a noun (like 'performance', 'sales', etc.). It specifies a particular timeframe for comparison or reference. As Ludwig AI's analysis confirms, this phrase is widely accepted and used in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "previous quarter" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to denote the quarter immediately preceding the current one. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread acceptance and usability. Predominantly found in news, academic, and business contexts, the phrase serves to provide a clear reference point for comparisons and trend analysis. While "last quarter" offers a more informal alternative, ""previous quarter"" maintains a more professional tone, enhancing clarity in formal communications. Remember to use it precisely to avoid confusion with other timeframes, such as "same quarter last year".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

last quarter

Uses a more concise term to indicate the immediately preceding quarter.

prior quarter

Employs a synonym for "previous", maintaining the formal tone.

preceding quarter

Uses a more formal term to indicate the quarter that came before.

quarter before last

Specifies a period two quarters in the past, instead of one.

earlier quarter

Indicates a quarter at an unspecified time in the past.

quarter one

Refers to the first quarter.

quarter two

Refers to the second quarter.

quarter three

Refers to the third quarter.

quarter four

Refers to the fourth quarter.

the quarter that just ended

Expresses the idea of the previous quarter in a more descriptive way.

FAQs

How can I use "previous quarter" in a sentence?

You can use "previous quarter" to compare data or performance with the current period, like "Sales increased by 10% compared to the "previous quarter"".

What's the difference between "last quarter" and "previous quarter"?

"Last quarter" and "previous quarter" are often used interchangeably, but "last quarter" is more informal, while ""previous quarter"" sounds slightly more formal and precise.

What can I say instead of "previous quarter"?

You can use alternatives like "prior quarter" or "preceding quarter" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "the quarter before" instead of "previous quarter"?

While understandable, "the quarter before" is less precise and may require additional context. It's generally clearer to use ""previous quarter"" to avoid any ambiguity.