second from last

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "second from last" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the item or position that is immediately before the last one in a sequence. Example: "In the list of participants, Sarah's name is second from last."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

But he has been a different man from the morose and diffident figure who finished second from last at Firestone last weekend.

The Guardian - Sport

The UK's Bonnie Tyler came 19th, an improvement on last year when Engelbert Humperdinck came second from last.

BBC

Humperdinck slid in second from last for the UK when the contest was held in Azerbaijan last year but he had the tough task of opening the show, a slot nobody has ever won from.

Independent

Her result was an improvement on last year when the UK's entrant Engelbert Humperdinck came second from last with just 12 points.

BBC

Last year's entry, Love Will Set You Free by Engelbert Humperdinck, finished second from last with just 12 points.

BBC

Second from last in South Africa's old racial pecking order, they now find themselves right at the bottom.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Last year's representative was "Release Me" singer Englebert Humperdinck who came second-from-last in the competition with just 12 points.

Independent

Humperdinck came second-from-last in 2012, a result made more painful by Irish twins Jedward's higher placed finish.

Independent

This second-from-last finish follows three occasions in the past 10 years when the UK has finished bottom of the heap altogether.

Independent

It shows Chuck Klosterman, not David Von Drehle, and should appear with the third-from-last entry, not the second-from-last.

The New York Times

Ford has slid to the second-from-last brand in the Consumer Reports 2012 Annual Auto Reliability Survey, as it continues to be dogged by problems with its new automatic transmission and the MyFord and MyLincoln Touch system.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about rankings or lists, "second from last" clearly indicates a specific position without ambiguity. Use it to avoid confusion, especially when the list order matters.

Common error

Avoid using "antepenultimate" as a substitute for "second from last". "Antepenultimate" means "third from last", not "second from last". Use "penultimate" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "second from last" functions as an ordinal specifier, indicating a position within a sequence. It is used to identify the element immediately preceding the final one, offering clarity in ordered lists or rankings. As confirmed by Ludwig, this usage is grammatically correct and widely accepted.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Wiki

16%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "second from last" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe the position immediately before the final item in a sequence. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. While alternatives like "penultimate" offer a more formal tone, "second from last" is versatile and clear across various contexts. Pay attention not to be confused with "antepenultimate", which means 'third from last'. Its frequent appearance in News & Media, Wiki, and Science contexts highlights its broad applicability. When precision matters, "second from last" provides a reliable way to specify position without ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

penultimate

A more formal and concise term directly meaning 'second from last'.

next to last

A more direct and commonly used synonym.

second to the end

Emphasizes the position relative to the end.

one before the last

Descriptive, highlighting the item's proximity to the final one.

antepenultimate

Refers to third from last but used wrongly.

the runner up

Used specifically in competitions.

in second place from the rear

More descriptive and suitable for ranking scenarios.

second from the bottom

Suitable in case of ranking or physical position (eg: second from the bottom in the list).

almost last

Indicates near but not necessarily exactly the second-to-last position.

near the end

A general expression indicating proximity to the end, without specifying the exact position.

FAQs

What does "second from last" mean?

It refers to the item or position immediately before the final one in a sequence or list. It's synonymous with "penultimate" or "next to last".

Is it correct to say "second to last" instead of "second from last"?

While "second to last" might be understood, "second from last" is the more standard and grammatically correct phrasing. Alternatives include "penultimate" or "next to last".

What's a more formal way to say "second from last"?

A more formal way to express "second from last" is "penultimate". This term is concise and commonly used in academic and professional contexts.

In what situations is it best to use "second from last"?

Use "second from last" when you need to clearly indicate the position of an item in a sequence relative to the end, especially when precision is important. This phrase is versatile and suitable for various contexts, or use "next to last".