this past May

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this past May" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the month of May that occurred in the most recent calendar year. Example: "We held the annual conference this past May, and it was a great success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Sold at Sotheby's in London this past May, this is Richter's priciest piece yet.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

A fourth case occurred in Slovenia last September, and a fifth and sixth in Spain this past May.

The New Yorker

July 20-Aug.

The New York Times - Arts

Nobody blinks until late July, early August.

Independent

Real Betis in late October, early November.

The Guardian - Sport

Last August, the A.C.L.U.

The New Yorker

since October, 2006.

The New Yorker

I graduated last June.

The New York Times

It opened last September.

The New York Times - Travel

In early April "G.M.A".

The New York Times

Last April, Pres.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this past May" when you want to clearly specify the May of the immediately preceding year, especially when there might be ambiguity. For example, use it at the beginning of a new year to distinguish it from May of the current year.

Common error

Avoid using "this past May" when you intend to refer to May in the future. Instead, use "this coming May" or "May of this year" to ensure clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this past May" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying when an action or event occurred. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "this past May" is a grammatically sound and understandable phrase used to refer to the May of the year immediately preceding the current one. Ludwig confirms this assessment. While not as common as "last May", it offers added clarity, especially when precision is important or at the beginning of a new year. It is suitable for various contexts, maintaining a neutral tone and fitting well within news articles, scientific papers and encyclopedia entries. When considering usage, remember to avoid using it for future references and to be aware of possible confusion with events planned for the May of the current year.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

last May

Uses a more concise way to refer to the May preceding the current date.

May of last year

Emphasizes the yearly aspect of the time reference.

the previous May

Employs a slightly more formal tone to indicate the May before the present.

May of the previous year

A more explicit and formal version of "May of last year".

in May of the last year

Adds "in" for a slightly different phrasing but retains the same meaning.

the May just gone

Uses a more colloquial expression to indicate the recent past.

recently in May

Highlights the recency of the event in May.

the May before now

A more descriptive and less common way of referring to the previous May.

in the month of May last year

A verbose and emphatic version.

earlier this year in May

Adds a sense of 'earlier' to emphasize the temporal relationship to current date.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "this past May"?

Use "this past May" to specifically refer to the May of the immediately preceding year, particularly when the current date is close to or within the following months of the year.

What are some alternatives to saying "this past May"?

Alternatives include "last May", "May of last year", or "the previous May". Choose the phrase that best fits the context and desired level of formality.

How does "this past May" differ from "last May"?

While similar, "this past May" can be used for emphasis or clarity, especially at the beginning of a new year, while "last May" is more direct and commonly used.

Is "this past May" formal or informal?

"This past May" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its usage depends more on the surrounding text and the need for specific clarity rather than the level of formality.