the other month

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the other month" is correct and commonly used in written and spoken English.
This phrase is often used to refer to a past period that was recent before the current time. For example: "I saw my old boss the other month and we had a good catch-up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

My chin was in Mojo the other month.

The Guardian - Arts

Just the other month Primal Scream's single 2013 condemned "Thatcher's children".

The Guardian - Music

"If Arsenal changed eight the other month why is that allowed and I am not?

The Guardian - Sport

I'm in my 20s and the other month, I was at someone's 60th birthday ball.

The Guardian - Books

"I even printed a poster of Saddam the other month," says the printer.

The Guardian

"The other month I did an afternoon at the National Film School, and I felt like such a fraud.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

The other March Madness?

The New York Times

One will take place on Aug. 27 at 4 p.m., and the other Aug. 29 at 9 a.m.

The New York Times

— The other September cover of GQ magazine on the national newsstands — the one without the Jets' Tim Tebow — features an N.F.L. quarterback who is slightly less publicized.

The New York Times - Sports

Modern additions like the pool and spa and two restaurants are still under construction, with one restaurant set to open Aug.15 and the other Sept. 1.

The New York Times

Visa vs. Status: One can Expire; the Other May Not!

University of Chicago

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the other month" when you want to refer to a specific, but not necessarily precisely defined, month in the recent past. It implies the event is relatively recent but not as immediate as "last month".

Common error

Avoid using "the other month" if you can be more specific (e.g., "last July") or if the event was longer than a few months ago. Overuse can make your writing seem vague.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the other month" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb by indicating when an action occurred. It offers a general, non-specific reference to a recent month in the past, as shown in Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the other month" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate a non-specific month in the recent past. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is widely used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. However, for formal or academic writing, consider using more precise language. Remember that "the other month" implies a timeframe that is neither the current nor the immediate past month. When precision is important, alternatives such as "last month", "a few weeks ago", or specifying the actual month (e.g., "in July") are preferable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

last month

Refers to the immediately preceding month.

in the past month

More specific timeframe, useful when precision is needed.

earlier this month

Refers to a time within the current month.

a few weeks ago

Specifies a slightly more precise but still vague timeframe.

in recent weeks

Similar to "a few weeks ago" but emphasizes a period of time.

recently

Focuses on the recency of the event without specifying a timeframe.

not long ago

Highlights the event's proximity to the present without detail.

in recent times

Emphasizes the event's occurrence in the current era.

a while ago

Similar to "some time back" but slightly more direct.

some time back

A more casual way to indicate a past event.

FAQs

How can I use "the other month" in a sentence?

You can use "the other month" to refer to a month in the recent past, for example, "I visited Paris "the other month" and had a wonderful time."

What's a more precise alternative to "the other month"?

If you need to be more specific, you can use phrases like "last month", "two months ago", or mention the actual month name, such as "last July".

Is it okay to use "the other month" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "the other month" is generally more suited for informal or conversational contexts. In formal writing, consider using more precise language like "in July" or "during the previous quarter".

What's the difference between "last month" and "the other month"?

"Last month" refers specifically to the month immediately preceding the current one. "The other month" refers to a month sometime in the recent past but not necessarily the one directly before the current month.