"first death in the last 200 year or so" vs "first death in 200 years or so"

Question

"first death in the last 200 year or so" vs "first death in 200 years or so"

The correct phrase is 'first death in 200 years or so.' The addition of 'the last' in the second phrase is unnecessary and incorrect. The first phrase is commonly used to indicate a significant event that has not occurred for a long time.

Last Updated: April 01, 2024

Alternatives:

first death in 200 years or so
first death in the past 200 years or so
first death in over 200 years or so
first death in nearly 200 years or so
first death in about 200 years or so

This phrase is used to emphasize that an event, in this case, a death, has not happened for a long time, approximately 200 years or more.

Examples:

This is the first death in 200 years or so that we have had in our community.
The last time we experienced a pandemic of this scale was the first death in 200 years or so.

Answer 1

first death in the last 200 year or so

This phrase is incorrect due to the unnecessary use of 'the last.'

Answer 2

first death in 200 years or so

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"first death in the last 200 year or so" vs "first death in 200 years or so"

first death in the last 200 year or so

first death in 200 years or so

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