the previous august

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the previous august" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the month of August in the year prior to the current one. Example: "The report was finalized in the previous August, and we are now ready to implement the changes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

The previous August, Klíma revived the writers' club Czech PEN.

The Guardian - Books

The stock market had hit bottom the previous August in the midst of a severe recession.

The New York Times

They had married the previous August, and he had sublet his place in the East Village.

The New York Times

Many had met the previous August, and would meet again in February.

The New York Times

The Geneva II conference in January 2014 took place in the shadow of Assad's chemical weapons attacks the previous August.

The Guardian

Prime Minister Gillard announced the carbon price in February 2011, after winning the election the previous August.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

And the previous month?

The Guardian

The figure was 94.3% the previous month.

The Guardian

He had moved there the previous month.

The New Yorker

Doctors detected her condition the previous month.

The Guardian

The previous month sales stood at 950,373.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "the previous august", ensure the context clearly establishes which year you are referencing to avoid ambiguity. For example, in reports or historical analyses, specify the year for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "the previous august" without a clear temporal anchor. If the reader doesn't know the timeframe, they won't understand which August you are referring to. Always provide context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the previous august" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a noun or verb by specifying a time relative to the main subject. Ludwig AI shows many examples of this usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Wiki

12%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the previous august" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to denote August of the preceding year. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its presence across various domains, including news, encyclopedias, and scientific publications. While versatile, clarity is paramount: always provide sufficient context so that the timeframe is understood. Alternatives like "august of last year" exist, but "the previous august" remains a clear and effective choice for specifying a particular month in the past.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

august of the prior year

Replaces "previous" with "prior" and rearranges the words slightly. This is more formal.

the preceding august

Replaces 'previous' with 'preceding', offering a formal synonym

august last year

Uses a simpler, more direct phrasing. Less formal than "the previous august".

last year's august

Changes the structure to possessive form. Suitable for casual writing.

the august before

Emphasizes the sequence. Slightly less precise.

august a year ago

More conversational and less formal way of expressing the time.

the august of the year before

More verbose and less common. Adds emphasis.

in august of the preceding year

Adds a preposition and uses more formal vocabulary, resulting in a more verbose alternative.

that august

Requires context to establish the reference point; less explicit.

august in the year before last

Less direct; refers to two years prior, not one.

FAQs

How to use "the previous august" in a sentence?

You can use "the previous august" to specify an event that happened in August of the year before the one you're discussing. For example, "The company's profits were significantly higher in the previous august."

What is another way to say "the previous august"?

Alternatives to "the previous august" include "august of last year" or "last year's august". The best choice depends on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "the last august" instead of "the previous august"?

While understandable, "the last august" is less precise and slightly informal compared to "the previous august". "the previous august" provides a clearer reference to the August immediately preceding the current time frame.

What's the difference between "the previous august" and "the following august"?

"The previous august" refers to August of the year before the current or referenced year, while "the following august" refers to August of the year after the current or referenced year. They indicate opposite points in time.