same as last year

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "same as last year" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to something that remains unchanged compared to the previous year. Example: "The budget allocation for this project will be the same as last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

New year, same as last year.

The New York Times - Sports

That is the same as last year.

The New York Times - Food

The nation overall earned a C, same as last year.

Stanford University

Ticket prices are the same as last year ($35-$35-$80

Yale University

Attendance, though, was about the same as last year.

The New York Times - Tech

Cod quotas remained roughly the same as last year.

The New York Times

Fewer injury-enforced retirements (same as last year).

The Guardian - Sport

Tickets cost $5 to 10, the same as last year.

The New York Times - Sports

And the winner is? Same as last year.

The New York Times

"He's been the same as last year," Cano said.

The New York Times - Sports

A reserved seat in Baseline Reserved B Section 5 field level seating (same as last year).

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "same as last year", ensure the context clearly establishes what aspect you're comparing to the previous year. This prevents ambiguity and strengthens the statement's impact.

Common error

Avoid using "same as last year" without specifying what is being compared. For example, instead of saying "Sales were same as last year", specify "Sales revenue was the "same as last year"".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "same as last year" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun by indicating a state of equivalence between something in the current year and its counterpart in the previous year. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Academia

28%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "same as last year" is a common and grammatically correct way to express equivalence between a current situation and the one from the previous year. Ludwig confirms its validity. Predominantly found in News & Media and Academic sources, it serves to indicate consistency or a lack of change. When employing the phrase, it's crucial to provide clear context to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives include "identical to the prior year" and "consistent with the previous year", among others. Using the phrase correctly and providing all the contextual information will benefit your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

identical to the prior year

Replaces 'same' with 'identical' and 'last' with 'prior', emphasizing exact correspondence.

as it was last year

Simple restructuring of the phrase to emphasize continuity.

consistent with the previous year

Substitutes 'same' with 'consistent', focusing on the lack of change.

remained unchanged from last year

Highlights the lack of alteration compared to the previous year.

no different from the year before

Emphasizes the lack of difference compared to the preceding year.

the situation is unchanged since last year

This is a longer rephrasing of the original phrase, focused on the lack of overall change.

mirrors the past year

Uses 'mirrors' to highlight an exact reflection of the previous year.

comparable to the previous year

Indicates similarity allowing for minor differences, unlike 'same'.

in line with last year's figures

Specifically refers to numerical data and its consistency with the previous year.

on par with the prior year

Indicates equality or equivalence in performance or status compared to the previous year.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "same as last year"?

You can use alternatives like "identical to the prior year", "consistent with the previous year", or "no different from the year before" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "same as last year" in formal writing?

Yes, "same as last year" is acceptable in formal writing, particularly when comparing data or situations across years. However, in some contexts, more precise language might be preferred for added clarity.

What does "same as last year" imply?

The phrase "same as last year" implies that there has been no change in a particular aspect compared to the previous year. It is a straightforward way to indicate consistency or lack of progress.

How to use "same as last year" in a sentence?

Here's an example: "The company's profits were the "same as last year", despite increased marketing efforts." You can also say: "Early bookings this year are about the "same as last year"."