third to last

USAGE SUMMARY

'third to last' is a correct and usable expression in written English.
You can use it to refer to the third item from the end of a list, series, or sequence. For example: "The third to last contestant was disqualified from the competition."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

Third to last, however, comes with few accolades.

The New York Times - Sports

Evans will start the time trial third to last Saturday.

The New York Times - Sports

Evans is set to go third to last.

The New York Times - Sports

Editor's note: A spelling error that appeared in the third to last paragaph has been corrected.

The New York Times

Looking back, I don't know if that truly was my last breast feed, or my second or third to last.

The New York Times

"I don't know her at all," Dow said, "but to see her come in third to last — that disgusted me.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

And the fact that it was the third-to-last pick wasn't very enticing anyway".

The New York Times - Sports

"I try to live every day like it was my third-to-last," it says.

The New Yorker

(The third-to-last episode of the series airs this Sunday).

The New Yorker

Once they teed off, in the third-to-last group, it proved hard to watch.

The New York Times

Book the third-to-last or second-to-last flight instead.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing formally, consider using "antepenultimate" as a concise synonym for "third to last".

Common error

Be mindful of whether "third to last" accurately reflects the intended position. Ensure the reader correctly understands the sequence or list being referenced to avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "third to last" functions as an ordinal specifier, indicating a specific position in a sequence or list, counting backwards from the end. Ludwig's examples show its use in various contexts, like races, days, and items in a series.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

20%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "third to last" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate a position in a sequence counting backwards from the end. As noted by Ludwig, it serves to precisely locate elements in various contexts, and it can be considered neutral in register, suitable for both formal and informal communications. While alternatives like "antepenultimate" exist, "third to last" offers clarity and is widely understood. Be aware of the context to ensure the intended meaning is clearly communicated. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's validity and provides numerous examples of its use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

third from the end

Clarifies the position by explicitly stating "third from the end", providing a more descriptive alternative.

the third last item

Specifies "item" to clarify what is being positioned.

in third-last position

Rephrases using "position" to create a more formal tone.

number three from last

Uses "number" for a more direct specification of the position.

two places before the end

Describes the position relative to the end, offering a more contextual explanation.

third in reverse order

Focuses on the reversed ordering to indicate the position, slightly changing the emphasis.

third closest to the end

Emphasizes proximity to the end, changing the focus slightly.

antepenultimate

Uses a single word to denote the third from last position, offering a more concise alternative.

the one before the penultimate

Refers to the element preceding the second to last, using a more complex but precise description.

at the tail end minus two

Employs "tail end" and subtraction to denote the position, making it more informal.

FAQs

How can I use "third to last" in a sentence?

You can use "third to last" to refer to the item that is third from the end in a series. For example, "The "third to last" chapter was the most suspenseful".

What is a single-word alternative to "third to last"?

A single-word alternative to "third to last" is "antepenultimate", though it is less commonly used.

Is it better to say "third to last" or "third from last"?

"Third to last" and "third from last" are generally interchangeable, but "third from last" might be clearer for some readers.

What's the difference between "second to last" and "third to last"?

"Second to last" refers to the item immediately before the final item, while "third to last" refers to the item two positions before the final item.