second quarter

USAGE SUMMARY

"second quarter" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to the second three months of a calendar year. For example: "My company's profits rose during the second quarter of this fiscal year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

into the second quarter.

The New York Times

early in the second quarter.

The New York Times

Then the second quarter started.

The New York Times

He returned in the second quarter.

The New York Times - Sports

Patriots 14, Broncos 7. Early second quarter.

The New York Times

We haven't played the second quarter.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

| Second-quarter growth revised upward.

The New York Times

The second-quarter figure was 7.6 percent.

The New York Times

Indianapolis came back with second-quarter touchdowns.

Independent

He threw a second-quarter interception.

The New York Times - Sports

Second-quarter earnings fell "significantly".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing financial performance or sports events, specify the year (e.g., "second quarter of 2024") to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Be mindful that fiscal quarters may not align with calendar quarters. Always clarify if you're referring to a fiscal "second quarter" or a calendar "second quarter" to prevent misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "second quarter" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as an adverbial modifier specifying when an event or condition occurs. As Ludwig AI's examples show, it's commonly used to indicate a specific three-month period within a year.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Formal & Business

22%

Sports

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "second quarter" is a common and grammatically correct way to refer to the period from April to June. Ludwig AI confirms its frequent use in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Sports contexts. When using the phrase, ensure you clarify whether you're referring to a calendar or fiscal quarter, and always specify the year for clarity. Related phrases include "quarter two" and "Q2". As illustrated by the examples, this term is widely understood and accepted across various domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quarter two

Rephrasing using numbers instead of ordinal words.

q2

Abbreviated form, commonly used in business contexts.

second three months

Expressing the quarter in terms of its constituent months.

april to june

Specifying the months included in the second quarter.

the subsequent quarter

Referring to the second quarter in relation to a previous one.

the following quarter

Similar to 'subsequent quarter', indicating a sequence.

the next three-month period

Describing the second quarter as a period of time.

the june quarter

Focusing on the last month of the second quarter.

the mid-year quarter

Relating the second quarter to the middle of the year.

the period from april to june

A more descriptive way of specifying the timeframe.

FAQs

What does "second quarter" mean in a business context?

In business, "second quarter" typically refers to the period from April 1 to June 30. It's a common timeframe for reporting financial results and tracking progress.

How is "second quarter" abbreviated?

The most common abbreviation for "second quarter" is Q2. You might also see it written as 2Q or 2nd Quarter.

What comes before and after the "second quarter"?

The "second quarter" is preceded by the "first quarter" (January to March) and followed by the "third quarter" (July to September).

Is there a difference between calendar "second quarter" and fiscal "second quarter"?

Yes, a company's fiscal year may not align with the calendar year. Therefore, the fiscal "second quarter" could start and end on different dates than the calendar "second quarter". Always clarify which one you are referring to.