until last month

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "until last month" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a time frame that extends up to the previous month, often in contexts discussing changes or events that occurred before that point. Example: "I was working at the company until last month, when I decided to pursue a new opportunity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

That is, until last month.

The New York Times

She did not start training full time until last month.

The New York Times - Sports

Until last month, Mr. Wyly was chairman of the company.

The New York Times

The two sides battled for five years, until last month.

The New York Times

Lieutenant Willecke, 25, served in the Navy until last month.

The New York Times - Style

· Michael Meacher MP was environment minister until last month.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

LONDON — Until last month, the Don Valley Power Project in northeast England looked like a winner.

The New York Times

(Until last month, I had no idea).

The New Yorker

(There were no more reintroductions until last month).

The New Yorker

Despite repeated requests, the funding wasn't replenished until last month.

The New Yorker

He continued to work at the paper until last month.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing actions or states that have changed, follow "until last month" with information about the new situation or change.

Common error

Avoid using "until last month" when a more specific date or timeframe is needed. If the precise end date is known, use it instead of generalizing to the entire month.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "until last month" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying the duration of a state, action, or condition. Ludwig confirms it's grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "until last month" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that acts as an adverbial of time. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's most frequently encountered in news and media contexts to set a temporal boundary, often preceding a change or new development. While versatile, it's important to use specific dates when precision is required. Alternative phrases include "up until last month" or "through last month", providing nuanced options for writers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

up until last month

Adds emphasis on the duration leading to the previous month.

through last month

Implies a continuous action or state extending to the end of the previous month.

until the end of last month

Specifies the termination point as the conclusion of the previous month.

previous to last month

More formal and slightly less direct way of indicating the period before the last month.

as of the end of last month

Indicates a state or condition existing at the close of the previous month.

in the month prior

Focuses on the month immediately preceding the current one, using a slightly more academic tone.

in the preceding month

Similar to "in the month prior" but can emphasize a specific event or condition.

before the start of this month

Highlights the transition from the previous month to the current one.

leading up to last month

Emphasizes the period of time directly before the previous month.

until recently

More general term to indicate that something was true until a short time ago. Requires context for specific period.

FAQs

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

Use "until last month" to specify that something was true, ongoing, or valid up to the end of the previous month. For example, "I worked there "until last month", but now I have a new job".

What's the difference between "until last month" and "until the end of last month"?

The phrases are very similar. "Until the end of last month" is slightly more explicit, emphasizing that the duration extended to the very last day of the month. "Until last month" is a common shorthand that implies the same meaning.

What can I say instead of "until last month"?

You can use alternatives like "up until last month", "through last month", or "in the preceding month" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "since last month" instead of "until last month"?

No, "since last month" indicates the starting point of something, not the ending point. "Since last month" means from last month until now, while "until last month" means up to the end of last month.