this past may

USAGE SUMMARY

"this past May" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the month of May in the previous year, or the month of May in the current year that has already passed. For example: "I went on holiday this past May and had a wonderful time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

This past May, the archives of Georgetown University yielded documents establishing that Kilmer was living in Mahwah, N.J., when he wrote "Trees".

The New York Times - Books

This past May while designing costumes for "Aida" at the Cooperstown Opera House in Upstate New York, the designer Bibhu Mohapatra snapped a photograph of a luna moth.

The New York Times

The American Academy of Arts and Letters notes with sorrow the death of our esteemed colleague, who this past May had been awarded the Academy's Gold Medal for Painting.

The New York Times

This past May when the Seattle Seahawks turned down an invitation to be on "Hard Knocks," they didn't just avoid a potentially monster-sized distraction, they also kept the lid on what might just be the best-kept secret in the N.F.L. Want a breakout team for 2012?

The New York Times

The Canadian version of MySpace launched this past may.

TechCrunch

This past May Chile approved a tax on copper production that ranges from 0.5% to 5% of operating profits, depending on the amount produced.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

If that is the case, this latest bridge to the past may foster some sympathy for their demise.

Vice

Tests showed that even using only this stochastic information about the past may be beneficial in some cases.

Computers and Operations Research

This hypnotic novel suggests that forgetting the past may be the heavy cost that success demands.

The New Yorker

The significance of this is that root biology in the past may have been much more diverse than we realise.

The Guardian

This bewitching "sleepy country", so mired in the past, may also foreshadow a post-prosperity future.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this past May" to clearly indicate the specific May you are referencing, especially when discussing events within the current year or the immediately preceding year. It avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Be careful not to use "this past May" when the context doesn't clearly establish whether you're referring to the May of the current year (that has already passed) or the May of the previous year. Add additional context if needed to clear up potential confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this past May" functions as a temporal marker, specifying a particular month (May) in relation to the present time. Ludwig's examples show it's used to set the timeframe for events or actions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "this past May" is a temporal expression used to specify the month of May in either the preceding year or the current year (if it has already occurred). According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and most frequently found in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly indicates which May you are referring to, as ambiguity can arise. Alternatives like "last May" or "previous May" can also be employed. "This past May" serves to provide a clear and concise timeframe for events, helping to establish the context for the reader.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

last May

A more concise way to refer to the previous May.

previous May

Similar to 'last May', but slightly more formal.

May of last year

A more explicit way to specify the May of the previous year.

May before this one

Refers to the May immediately preceding the current month.

earlier this May

Specifically references to a period within the current year's May, assuming it has passed.

in May

A shorter version but implies the past based on context.

the month of May

A more generic way to talk about month of May.

during May

Focuses on the duration of the month of May.

that May

Referring to a specific May previously mentioned.

in the month of May

A more formal phrasing of 'in May'.

FAQs

What does "this past May" mean?

The phrase "this past May" refers to the month of May in the previous year, or the month of May in the current year that has already passed.

Is it correct to say "this past May"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct and widely used, especially in news and media contexts.

What are some alternatives to "this past May"?

You can use alternatives such as "last May", "previous May", or "May of last year".

How can I use "this past May" in a sentence?

For example: "I visited Europe "this past May" and had a wonderful experience."