May last year vs May of the last year

Both phrases are incorrect. The correct way to express the month of May in the previous year is 'last May'. Avoid using 'may last year' or 'may of the last year' as they are not standard English constructions.

Last updated: April 09, 2024 • 921 views

This phrase is not correct in English.

"May last year"

Avoid using 'may last year' to refer to the month of May in the previous year.

Show examples from the web [+]

In May last year we had a first name and shame exercise, as we call it, on bathing water quality.
I think it was 16 May last year, the time of the first reading.
The Council has been following up on the events since they occurred in Laayoune in May last year.
As the honourable Members know, in May last year, the Commission also presented a proposed framework Decision on pollution from ships.
ROSANNA: I recall with particular gratitude the speech to male and female superiors general of 26 May last year.
Mr President, we held our first debate on the Commission's Sixth Community Environment Action Programme in May last year.
The Commission's analysis published back in May last year confirmed that free allocation is an effective means to address the potential risk of carbon leakage.
This situation was dramatically worsened on 6 May last year when a Libyan court sentenced the Bulgarian nurses to death by firing squad.
On 29 May last year, I informed the European Parliament of the necessity to review our trade defence instruments.
The Commission submitted a proposal for a directive on this in May last year.
Back in May last year her family had reported threats and psychological intimidation which she was subjected to in prison by her own cellmates.
Shiseido is pushing the accelerator on travel retail too with the creation of a dedicated division in May last year.
On 24 May last year, in the Patriarchal Palace, I had the joy of talking to His Beatitude Maxim for the first time.
Since we started up back in May last year, the web-site has been visited by over 21,000 people from 115 countries', said Claes Settergren, Managing Director of Venture Capital World.
Also according to the Guardian, to: May last year, were, 300, analysts of: GCHQ business: this project and 250 of the American NSA.
On several occasions, Aung San Suu Kyi has asked the international community to introduce political and economic sanctions against Burma, which is something President Clinton decided on in May last year when new investments in Burma were banned.
The directive will not only cover mining but also, following the tragic accident in Enschede in the Netherlands in May last year, the safe storage of fireworks.
What occurred by the late weeks of May last year was a very manifest and severe breakdown in working relationships, which meant that action had to be taken with rapidity simply because delay would have prolonged the difficulty without bringing any prospect of reconciliation.
This report also provides a response to the various family associations that sent a petition to Parliament on 15 May last year, on International Day of the Family.
Mr President, I would like to quote an article from an authoritative Dutch newspaper in May last year, just before the referendum in the Netherlands.

This phrase is not correct in English.

"May of the last year"

Avoid using 'may of the last year' to refer to the month of May in the previous year.

Show examples from the web [+]

May of the last year
There's her cousin, an' she were not possessed with a fury, exceeds her as much in beauty as the first of May doth the last of December.
There's her cousin, an she were not possessed with a fury, exceeds her as much in beauty as the first of May doth the last of December.
If all goes well, this may be one of the last times I ever have to speak to you.
These may be some of the last remaining people to live in traditional lifestyle... Based on a wisdom passed down through countless generations.
Sadly, he may be the last of his species.
We may have lost one of the last opportunities to unite the nation.
By 18 May, the last of them had been replaced.
Now, along with everything else, I'm burdened with the thought child may be the last of my people.
As you may have seen, of the last five speakers in the previous debate, four were S&D speakers.
Wait more than to hours after taking antacid to take your dose of Zestril as the first may inhibit absorption of the last.
After initial fighting around the Meråker Line railway line, the Norwegians pulled back into Hegra Fortress and held off further German attacks before surrendering on 5 May as one of the last Norwegian units active in southern Norway.
PSUR covering the period 1 May-31 August of the last but one season.
The further processing of print products may be one of the last stages of a print job, but it should be carefully considered in the planning process.
But a storm was approaching, and the season had really been meagre: Logan, being afraid that that whale may be the last of the year, decided to break the law of the tongue for the very first (and last) time.
The modern "working poor" may shine the shoes of the last businessmen of the dying labour society, may sell contaminated hamburgers to them, or may join the Security Corps to guard their shopping malls.
Palermo - 20th of May - The second last day of the World Raceboarding Championship races, organized by the Albaria Windsurfing club, the races still see Fragos leading the race towards final success.
Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, since May 1 of last year the flow of tourists into the 10 new Member States has shown an impressive increase.
I am glad that there is going to be a meeting in May of the contact group - unfortunately there was none under the last Presidency.
This runway is covered with the last pollen from the last flowers available anywhere on Earth.
The Last brothers became well known as members of the Last-Becker Ensemble.

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May last year vs May of the last year

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"May of the last year"

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