yesterday

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "yesterday" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the word to refer to the day that came before the current day. For example, "I started my new job yesterday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And, it was yesterday.

The New York Times

Today, it did".

The New York Times - Sports

Clegg told BBC Radio 4's Broadcasting House yesterday morning: "He [Darling] needs to enjoy the public's trust when it comes to issues of financial probity, of money, of managing our nation's finances.

The Guardian

And all the politics stories filed yesterday, including some in today's paper, are here.

The Guardian

In an indication of what simmering tensions could bring if unleashed, a mob of Christian youths in Jos's Tina neighbourhood set up a roadblock yesterday where they attacked at least three Muslim residents, beating one into a coma.

The Guardian

But low-key was also good politics yesterday.

The Guardian

The most recent execution took place in Ohio yesterday.

The Guardian

"If you listen to [Blatter's] speech yesterday, you will know what he said is he can't monitor everybody," Pinnick told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

The Guardian - Sport

Narodnaya Volya, which closed yesterday, was considered the most important voice of the opposition in Belarus.

The Guardian

As noted yesterday, the use of the heavy roller has been a key factor in that.

The Guardian - Sport

"We have recent pronunciations from the prime minister and the defence minister that go in a different direction from Alfano, who is also head of a small rightwing party that worked with Berlusconi until the day before yesterday and so has to keep his people quiet," he said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "yesterday" to provide a clear and concise reference to the day immediately preceding the present day.

Common error

Avoid using "yesterday" when referring to events that occurred more than one day in the past. Use phrases like "the day before yesterday" or specific dates for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The word "yesterday" functions primarily as an adverb of time, indicating when an action or event occurred. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and frequent usage. Examples from the search results demonstrate its role in specifying the timing of past events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "yesterday" is a commonly used adverb that denotes the day preceding the current one. Ludwig AI validates its correct and widespread use across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While grammatically straightforward, it's important to avoid using "yesterday" for events further in the past. Consider using alternatives such as "the previous day" or "the day before" for more formal or descriptive expressions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the previous day

Replaces "yesterday" with a more formal and descriptive term.

the day before

Uses a simpler, more direct way to refer to the day before the current one.

the day gone by

Employs a slightly more poetic or literary phrasing.

the past day

Highlights the fact that the day is now in the past.

on the prior day

Offers a more formal and structured way to indicate the preceding day.

in days past

Shifts the focus to a more general period in the past, including "yesterday".

recently

Broadens the timeframe to include events that happened not long ago, including "yesterday".

not long ago

Emphasizes the recentness of the event, encompassing "yesterday" and other recent times.

the other day

Indicates an event that happened a few days ago, including "yesterday".

in the immediate past

Highlights the recency of the event, making it suitable for contexts where the specific day isn't crucial.

FAQs

How do I use "yesterday" in a sentence?

Use "yesterday" to refer to the day before today. For example, "I went to the store yesterday".

What can I say instead of "yesterday"?

You can use alternatives like "the previous day" or "the day before" depending on the context.

Which is correct: "yesterday" or "the day before yesterday"?

"Yesterday" refers to the day immediately preceding today, while "the day before yesterday" refers to two days ago.

What's the difference between "yesterday" and "last week"?

"Yesterday" refers to the day before today, while "last week" refers to the week preceding the current week.