this past february

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this past February" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the February that just occurred before the current month or date. Example: "This past February, we launched our new marketing campaign."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Facebook's first step in trying to remedy this came this past February with the introduction of legacy contacts.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

In early February?

The New York Times

It was last February or last March.

Forbes

Barcelona, Spain - 19-22 February.

BBC

Sakhir, Bahrain - 19-22 February.

BBC

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

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this past February" when you want to emphasize that you are talking about a recent and specific February, particularly when other months might be relevant to the discussion. For example, comparing events from "this past February" versus events anticipated in an upcoming March.

Common error

Avoid using "this past February" when the context already clearly indicates the timeframe. For example, in a conversation about the current year, saying just "February" might suffice and prevent sounding redundant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this past February" functions as a time adverbial, specifying when something occurred. It modifies a verb or clause to indicate a specific point in time. Ludwig confirms its usability in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "this past February" is a grammatically sound way to refer to the February immediately preceding the current date. Ludwig confirms that it is usable in English. While correct, it's less common than alternatives like "last February" and primarily appears in news and media contexts. When using "this past February", ensure the context warrants the emphasis on recency or requires differentiation from other Februaries. Be mindful of potential redundancy if the timeframe is already clear. Prefer simpler phrasing like "last February" if emphasis is not important.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

last February

This alternative uses a more common and concise way to refer to the February immediately preceding the current date.

February just gone

This option uses a less formal, conversational tone.

the February that just passed

This alternative is a more descriptive and slightly more formal way of saying "last February".

the previous February

This phrase is suitable for contexts where you're comparing multiple February occurrences.

February of this year

This clarifies that the February being discussed is within the current year.

the February before now

This is a less common, but still understandable, way to refer to the preceding February.

earlier this year in February

This option emphasizes that February occurred earlier within the current year.

February in the recent past

A more general phrase that indicates February happened not long ago.

the February immediately prior

This phrase provides a more formal and precise way to describe the preceding February.

the February that preceded this one

This alternative clarifies that you are talking about the February right before the current date.

FAQs

What is the difference between "this past February" and "last February"?

While both phrases refer to the February immediately preceding the current date, "this past February" might be used to emphasize recency or to differentiate it from other Februaries, whereas "last February" is a more common and concise way of expressing the same timeframe.

When is it appropriate to use "this past February" instead of just "February"?

Use "this past February" when the context might be ambiguous or when you want to emphasize that you're talking about the most recent February. For instance, if discussing events from multiple years, "this past February" clarifies which February you mean.

Are there any alternatives to "this past February" that sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you could use "the February that just passed" or "the previous February". These options provide a slightly more elevated style while maintaining clarity about the timeframe.

Is "this past February" grammatically correct?

Yes, "this past February" is grammatically correct and understandable. However, consider whether it is the most concise and natural way to express the idea, as alternatives like "last February" might be preferred in many contexts.