until last

USAGE SUMMARY

"until last" is correct and is commonly used in written English.
This phrase is often used when referring to the most recent moment in time. For example: "I had been working on this project until last night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

"Until last night".

The New York Times

I left my thumbnails until last.

The New York Times

Until last Thursday.

The New York Times

Until last season.

The New York Times - Sports

Until last September.

The New York Times

Bryan has waited until last.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

At least not until 2033.

The New York Times

Until last year voting was compulsory.

The Economist

And it wasn't, until last Christmas Eve.

The New York Times - Sports

(Until last month, I had no idea).

The New Yorker

Until last year, he was a Canadian.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "until last", ensure the temporal reference (day, week, month, year) is clear to avoid ambiguity. For instance, specify "until last Friday" rather than just "until last".

Common error

Avoid using "until last" with future tenses. It's generally used to describe a situation that has changed or ended by a specific point in the recent past. For example, instead of saying "I will wait until last week", use "I waited until last week."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "until last" functions as a temporal marker, indicating a point in time (day, week, month, etc.) in the recent past before which a certain condition or state was true. Ludwig AI indicates this is generally correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "until last" is a grammatically correct temporal marker used to indicate a point in the recent past when a situation changed or ceased. According to Ludwig AI, this usage is correct. Although the examples showcase use of this phrase in News & Media and Science publications, the level of formality associated with "until last" is generally neutral, making it suitable for varied contexts, including common conversation. When employing "until last", clarify the specific temporal reference (day, week, month, etc.) to avoid ambiguity and ensure correct tense usage. Alternative phrases, such as "up to the previous" or "prior to the recent", can provide subtle variations in emphasis or formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

until the most recent

Directly references the latest occurrence as a temporal boundary.

till the previous

Uses a different preposition to indicate time leading up to the past.

up until the prior

Combines 'up until' for emphasis on the temporal boundary.

up to the previous

Emphasizes the period leading to the immediately preceding point in time.

prior to the latest

Indicates a time before the very newest or most current event.

prior to the recent

Highlights the time before the most immediate past occurrence.

before the newest

Focuses on what occurred before the most recent event or development.

before the preceding

Focuses on the period that comes directly before the one just gone by.

leading up to the past

Stresses the progression towards the immediate past.

through the prior

Highlights continuity up to the point immediately before the present.

FAQs

How can I use "until last" in a sentence?

Use "until last" to indicate that a situation or condition was true up to a specific point in the recent past. For example: "The business was doing well until last month."

What are some alternatives to using "until last"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "up to the previous", "prior to the recent", or "before the preceding".

Is it correct to say "until last" or should I use a different phrase?

"Until last" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase. However, the specific temporal reference (day, week, month, etc.) should be clear from the context. For example, "until last week" is more precise than just "until last".

What's the difference between "until last week" and "until the week before"?

"Until last week" refers to the week immediately preceding the current week. "Until the week before", however, refers to the week prior to the previous one, indicating an event that concluded further in the past.