third month in a row

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "third month in a row" is correct and is commonly used in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which something has happened three times in successive months. For example: "This is the third month in a row that the company has failed to meet its quota."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The survey showed private sector firms continued to take on extra staff in February, the third month in a row the research has found this.

BBC

While French consumer spending rose unexpectedly in November, in Italy confidence fell for a third month in a row in December.

Forbes

The purchasing managers' index fell in December for a third month in a row.

The Economist

And lending growth to the non-financial sector has continued to slow, with companies paying back more than they borrowed in June for the third month in a row".

The Economist

The Ifo institute's business climate index rose more than some economists predicted in January for a third month in a row, with manufacturing and service industries, especially, performing better than expected.

The New York Times

The U.S. consumer price index (CPI) rose in March for the third month in a row, pressured by soaring energy costs, the government said.

Forbes

While April was the third month in a row in which the pace of decline slowed, just 0.9% from the month before, other data point toward more housing trouble ahead.

Forbes

In Germany's mired economy, retail sales in August fell for the third month in a row.

The Economist

Recent data from the euro-zone, where nearly every government is practicing austerity, paint a grim picture: industrial production fell for the third month in a row in November and unemployment climbed to another record high.

The New York Times

Japan's consumer prices rose for the third month in a row in August, a boost for policymakers as they attempt to end years of deflation or falling prices.

BBC

The closely watched Markit/CIPS purchasing managers' index suggests the construction sector contracted for a third month in a row in March.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "third month in a row", ensure the context clearly establishes what is being repeated. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the impact of the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "third month in a row" when the events aren't actually consecutive. Ensure that the occurrences happen in direct sequence to maintain accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "third month in a row" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the duration and continuous nature of an event or trend. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "third month in a row" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe an event that has occurred for three consecutive months. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is widely used in news, business, and general writing to emphasize the continuous nature of a trend. While alternatives like "for three consecutive months" or "three months running" exist, "third month in a row" provides a clear and concise way to highlight recent consistency. Ensure that the occurrences are truly consecutive to maintain accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for three consecutive months

Emphasizes the consecutive nature of the months.

for the third successive month

Similar to "consecutive", but uses "successive".

three straight months

Uses "straight" as a synonym for consecutive.

three months running

Uses a more informal idiom to convey the same meaning.

in three months successively

More formal phrasing, highlighting succession.

three months in succession

A more formal and slightly less common phrasing.

a three-month streak

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of the occurrence as a "streak".

third sequential month

Replaces "in a row" with the more formal "sequential month".

three times monthly, consecutively

Breaks down the phrase, focusing on monthly occurrences.

a consistent three-month period

Focuses on the consistent nature and duration of the period.

FAQs

How can I use "third month in a row" in a sentence?

You can use "third month in a row" to describe a recurring event over three successive months. For example, "This is the "third month in a row" that sales have declined."

What are some alternatives to saying "third month in a row"?

You can use alternatives like "for three consecutive months", "three months running", or "three straight months".

Is it correct to say "for the third month" instead of "third month in a row"?

Saying "for the third month" can be ambiguous. "Third month in a row" clearly indicates consecutive months, while "for the third month" could refer to any non-consecutive month. Therefore, when sequence is important, use "third month in a row".

What is the difference between "third month in a row" and "three months in total"?

"Third month in a row" means an event happened consecutively for three months. "Three months in total" means the event occurred three times within a period, but not necessarily one after the other.