over the last three decades vs over the past three decades

Both phrases are correct and commonly used in English. They are interchangeable and convey the same meaning. The choice between 'over the last three decades' and 'over the past three decades' depends on the writer's personal preference or style.

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Last updated: March 09, 2025 • 5347 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"over the last three decades"

This phrase is used to refer to a period of three decades that have just ended, emphasizing the time that has passed.

Show examples from the web [+]

CA: There's been this huge decline in crime in America over the last three decades.
The common market has evolved over the last three decades and many State aid instruments today would not have been considered State aid 30, 20 or even 10 years ago.
It is the only large economic area to have become accustomed to mass unemployment over the last three decades, as pointed out by Professor Fitoussi.
To combat the sagging popularity of the show, the producers hired Fred Nunley, a well-known TV veteran who has been brought in to save many beloved shows over the last three decades.
J. whereas the share of official development assistance (ODA) allocated to agriculture internationally has fallen dramatically over the last three decades,
Deplores the fact that the considerable increase in tax pressure seen over the last three decades in many Member States has particularly affected labour revenue;
Please believe me when I say that I do not believe that the Irish people wish to deny the accession countries the opportunities and support that we as a small under-developed country have experienced and put to great use over the last three decades.
whereas the share of official development assistance (ODA) allocated to agriculture internationally has fallen dramatically over the last three decades,
Over the last three decades, broadcasting has undergone important changes.
Over the last three decades, his reign of terror has gone beyond the silver screen.
Irrigated areas have quadrupled over the last three decades, extending to thousands of hectares of land around the lake.
Agricultural commodity prices were marked by fluctuations over the last three decades, reflecting a medium-term trend that was nevertheless downward in real terms.
Thus, the social rights and freedoms acquired over the last three decades of independence are being dismantled through the revision of national labour and investment codes.
Over the last three decades, the Del Sol Conservancy has acquired over a million acres around the world, Mr. Ewing.
China is the world's greatest anti-poverty program over the last three decades.

Alternatives:

over the past three decades
in the last three decades
during the last three decades
throughout the last three decades
across the last three decades

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"over the past three decades"

This phrase is used to refer to a period of three decades that have just ended, emphasizing the time that has passed.

Show examples from the web [+]

Debates among economists over the cause of inflation continue to this day, despite the dominance of monetarist explanations over the past three decades.
On the other hand, we must look at the situation from a long-term perspective and see that motor vehicle emissions have been reduced enormously over the past three decades, for example, by as much as 95% in the case of solid dust particles.
Notes that, over the past three decades, the least developed countries have become net food importers, and therefore calls for a shift in agricultural policy towards the prioritisation of food security;
As a European rapporteur, I saw it as being of the utmost importance that I should listen very carefully to the Chinese discussions about the impressive peaceful development of the People's Republic over the past three decades.
B. whereas over the past three decades Latin America has undergone a major process of diversification in its international trade relations, striving to reduce its level of dependence,
whereas over the past three decades Latin America has undergone a major process of diversification in its international trade relations, striving to reduce its level of dependence,
The crisis affecting health professionals in general and specialist doctors in particular has been exacerbated by chronic underfunding of the Romanian health system over the past three decades.
Over the past three decades, we have lived through a quiet revolution.
Over the past three decades, the EU has established legislation to decrease the release of PCBs and dioxins into the environment, with the objective of reducing human exposure and protecting human health and the environment.
Notes that, over the past three decades, the least developed countries have become net food importers, and therefore calls for a shift in agricultural policy towards the prioritisation of food security;

Alternatives:

over the last three decades
in the past three decades
during the past three decades
throughout the past three decades
across the past three decades

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over the last three decades vs over the past three decades

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