past year vs previous year

Both 'past year' and 'previous year' are correct phrases, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'Past year' refers to the time period that has just ended, while 'previous year' refers to the year before the current one. The choice between the two depends on the specific time frame being referred to.

Last updated: April 01, 2024 • 1772 views

The phrase 'past year' is correct and commonly used to refer to the time period that has just ended.

"past year"

Use 'past year' when referring to the time period that has just ended, such as 'In the past year, we have seen significant changes in the market.'

Examples:

In the past year, I have learned a lot about myself.
Over the past year, our company has grown significantly.

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I know I've been missing in action the past year or so.
Eight times in the past year alone.
This past year with Schmidt's changed me.
Credit card says she stayed here one weekend a month for the past year.
You've come a long way this past year.
In the past year, we have presented 25 special reports.
We've been planning these exercises for the past year.
Avery regularly advertises in Auto Trader magazine and says Halbach has visited his home on assignment several times in the past year.
Certainly, the past year brought you something good.
But the past year has made its own mark.
Artistic results of the past year.
Troy Eli was arrested for petty theft twice in the past year.
There are certain precedents, particularly that of the past year.
As I said, 2500 Irish schoolteachers undertook development programmes in the past year.
In the past year both of these objectives have come under threat.
In the past year, the project was awarded the New Zealand Engineering Excellence Award.
The past year Rotterdam has grown more quickly in this field regarding the concurrent ports.
This past year more than seventy thousand people made the pilgrimage.
In the past year important progress was made.
Everything I did this past year.

Alternatives:

last year
recent year
preceding year
previous period

The phrase 'previous year' is correct and commonly used to refer to the year before the current one.

" previous year"

Use 'previous year' when specifically referring to the year before the current one, such as 'Our profits were higher in the previous year.'

Examples:

The sales figures for the previous year were disappointing.
I traveled to Europe in the previous year.

Show examples from the web [+]

Data of the previous year in the corresponding period.
A similar transfer was made the previous year.
Consequently, it no longer contains the cancellations of earmarked revenue carried over from previous year.
Foreign operations made up 59% of consolidated revenue, in line with the previous year.
This compared favourably with the previous year when only 58% of available appropriations were utilised.
A total of 3920 or an increase of 5% over the previous year.
GDP growth rate - percentage change over previous year
One of the changes that had occurred over the previous year...
Under Act 4/1995 municipal property tax in Icelandis levied on all buildings which have been subject to official valuation the previous year.
Seasonally adjusted quarterly data in the previous year's prices are not to be provided.
Transmission of all symmetric input-output tables in previous year's prices is voluntary.
According to Government Decision 780/2006 implementing Council Directive 2003/87, operators must return the CO2 certificates corresponding to the previous year by 30 April.
A major training effort was realised in a previous year
Any material change to the information contained in the Pension Benefit Statement compared to the previous year shall be clearly indicated.
Overall, therefore, annual HICP inflation in 2004 was 2.1% - unchanged from the previous year.
In 2006 average annual HICP inflation was 2.2%, unchanged compared with the previous year.
Even in the previous year the experts recorded drop in business activity.
Compared to the previous year, sales increased by 12.6 percent to 589 million Euros.
Casual clothing turnover in line with previous year, net income 108 million euro.
Casual wear turnover in line with the previous year.

Alternatives:

last year
year before
prior year
preceding year

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past year vs previous year

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