this past december

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this past December" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the December that just occurred before the current month or year. Example: "This past December, we celebrated our annual holiday party with great enthusiasm."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

He died last September.

The New York Times

(It reopened last December).

The New York Times - Food

The Nintendo Switch had an incredible month this past December.

Forbes

11 last December.

Forbes

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

Entries close early next month….

Metal Powder Report

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

The New Yorker

since October, 2006.

The New Yorker

I graduated last June.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this past December" when you want to specifically emphasize that you are referring to the December immediately before the current time. It provides a slightly more conversational tone than "last December".

Common error

Ensure your audience knows the current date when using "this past December". If the context is unclear or spans multiple years, specify the year (e.g., "this past December 2024") to avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this past December" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying when an event occurred. It modifies a verb or clause by providing a temporal context. Ludwig examples show its use in news and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "this past December" is a temporal marker used to pinpoint the December immediately preceding the current date. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While similar to "last December", it can add a subtle emphasis on recency. In terms of frequency, its use is rare, predominantly appearing in news and media. To ensure clarity, it's crucial to provide context, especially when the timeline isn't immediately apparent. Alternatives include "last December" and "the previous December", each offering slight variations in formality and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

last december

This is the most straightforward and commonly used alternative.

the previous december

This phrase is slightly more formal than "last December" but conveys the same meaning.

december of last year

This is a more descriptive and less direct way to refer to the same time period.

december a year ago

This emphasizes the temporal distance from the current date.

the december before this one

This is a more verbose but equally valid way of specifying the month.

in december of the past year

This is a formal phrasing indicating the specific December.

the december just gone

This alternative is more common in British English.

recently past december

This adds emphasis to the recent nature of the December being referenced.

the december that just ended

This focuses on the completion of the specified month.

the december we just experienced

This frames December as a shared experience.

FAQs

What does "this past December" mean?

The phrase "this past December" refers to the December that occurred immediately before the current date. It's a way to specify the most recent December.

Is "this past December" different from "last December"?

While both phrases are largely interchangeable, "this past December" can sometimes add a slight emphasis on the recentness of the event compared to "last December".

Can I use "this past December" to refer to any December in the past?

No, "this past December" is used to refer to the December that directly preceded the current date. For other Decembers, specify the year (e.g., "December 2020").

What are some alternative ways to say "this past December"?

You can use phrases such as "last December", "the previous December", or "December of last year" to convey a similar meaning.