was last modified

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was last modified" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate the most recent change made to a document, file, or piece of information. Example: "The report was last modified on March 15, 2023, to include the latest data."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

It was last modified in 2012.

The Guardian - Tech

The official paper record for the park, called a property card, was last modified in 1980, when the size was recorded as 1,255 acres.

The New York Times

The cap was last modified in 2002, when it was raised from $2. (Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani vetoed the bill in the waning hours of his tenure, but it became one of the first bills Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg signed into law).

The New York Times

To ensure that users do not overwrite each other's annotation, Artemis records the time each feature was last modified.

Bioinformatics

Include the date the page was last modified.

WikiHow

Versioning The latest hardware revision number is 9, which was last modified on 2005.08.30.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

A copy of the file, which seems to have been last modified on June 9, 2010, also appears to have been posted on the mirrors or complete copies of the main WikiLeaks site the group encouraged its supporters to create.

The New York Times

Provenance metadata refers to the data author and time stamp information, e.g. the source of the data, who is the owner of this data, when it was created and when has been last modified.

Journal of Cheminformatics

During the April 24 , 2007edition of The Oprah Winfrey Show, NBC News President Steve Capus stated NBC decided to show 2 minutes of 25 minutes of video, 7 of 43 photographs, and 37 sentences of 23 pages of written material or 5 of the 23 PDF files that were last modified at 7 24 a.m., after the first shooting.

Wikipedia

Besides the TNM staging system being last modified in 2009, the other two major models include the University of California Integrated Staging System (UISS), which combines TNM stage, Fuhrman grade and performance status, 5, 6 and the stage, size, grade, and necrosis (SSIGN) score developed by Mayo Clinic.

Cancer Science

As they detailed in a paper published in The Journal of Cryptology, the ability to certify when a document was created or last modified is crucial for resolving things like intellectual property rights.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was last modified" in documentation and file management systems to track changes and maintain version control. This helps teams understand when and why alterations were made, enhancing collaboration and reducing errors.

Common error

Don't mistake the "last modified" date for the creation date. The 'last modified' date indicates the most recent change, while the creation date reflects when the item was initially created. Using them interchangeably can lead to confusion about the information's history and relevance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was last modified" functions as a verb phrase in the passive voice, typically used to indicate when a specific item, such as a file or document, underwent its most recent alteration. Ludwig's examples illustrate this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Wiki

35%

Science

30%

News & Media

29%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was last modified" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate when something was most recently changed or updated. As highlighted by Ludwig, this phrase is used across diverse contexts, including wikis, news media, and scientific publications. While alternatives like ""was last updated"" and "was most recently changed" offer similar meanings, "was last modified" specifically emphasizes the action of modification. It is important to distinguish this phrase from "was created" to avoid confusion regarding the history of a document or file. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is applicable in both formal and informal settings, and is especially useful for maintaining version control and informing users about the currency of information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was last updated

Focuses on the action of updating, implying a more general change.

was most recently changed

Emphasizes the recency and nature of the alteration.

was edited last

Highlights the recency and specifically the editorial aspect of the change.

was revised

Highlights the process of revising, suggesting a more thorough modification.

was altered

Indicates a change has been made, without specifying the type.

underwent its latest modification

More formal, emphasizing the recency of alteration.

saw its last edit

More informal, emphasizing the editorial aspect of the change.

was subject to its most recent change

Formal and emphasizes the action of altering.

had its final version

Suggests the modification was conclusive and unlikely to be changed in the future.

was touched last

Informal and emphasizes the act of someone interacting with it.

FAQs

How do I indicate when a webpage "was last modified"?

Include a statement such as "This page "was last updated" on [Date]" at the bottom of the page. This informs users of the currency of the information.

What's the difference between "was last modified" and "was created"?

"Was last modified" indicates the date of the most recent change or update, while "was created" refers to the original date of creation. They denote different points in a document's history.

Where can I typically find when a file "was last modified"?

In most operating systems, you can right-click on a file, select 'Properties' (Windows) or 'Get Info' (macOS), and view the 'Last Modified' or 'Modified' date.

What are some alternatives to saying "was last modified"?

You can use alternatives such as ""was last updated"", "was most recently changed", or "was revised" depending on the specific context.