the month before vs in the month before

Both "the month before" and "in the month before" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "The month before" is used to refer to the month immediately preceding a specific point in time, while "in the month before" is used to indicate an action or event that occurred during the month prior to a specific point in time.

Last updated: March 26, 2024 • 2058 views

the month before

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to refer to the month immediately preceding a specific point in time.

This phrase is used to indicate the month that comes just before a particular point in time, such as a date or an event.

Examples:

I met her in the month before the accident.
The project was completed the month before the deadline.
He moved to a new city the month before his birthday.

Show examples from the web [+]

In the month before the extension of his/her term of office, the Director may be invited to make a statement before the competent committee(s) of the European Parliament and answer questions put by its/their members.
The information shall be published one week before the yearly capacity allocation but no later than the 15th calendar day of the month before the year to which the data relates.
Beneficiaries who were entitled in the month before 1 May 2004 to the fixed allowance mentioned in the former Article 4a of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations shall keep it ad personam up to grade 6.
in point (e) of paragraph 1 shall be published no later than the 15th calendar day of the month before the year to which the data relates.
A patient was classified as a' responder' if the number of seizures in the second month of treatment was at least 50% lower than the number in the month before treatment was started.
When the Commission grants the derogation, on the last day of the month before the derogation will be implemented, the operator must carry out a physical inventory (PIT) and submit a physical inventory listing (PIL) to the Commission.
Within the month before any such extension, the Executive Director shall be invited to make a statement before the competent committee(s) of the European Parliament and answer questions from the committee members.
All equipment must be calibrated before its initial use and then calibrated as often as necessary and in any case in the month before type approval testing.
The operative event for the exchange rate applicable to the financial compensation provided for in Article 21 of Regulation (EC) No 104/2000 shall be the 22nd day of the month before the operation took place.
For the fisheries sector, the operative event for the exchange rate for the withdrawal price and for the amounts linked to that price, which are listed in Annex I, shall be the 22nd day of the month before the operation took place.
I never had an employee of the month before.
She said that she remembers seeing you and Eric on Halloween the month before the murders.
Sales were down last month and the month before.
Each analyser shall be calibrated as often as necessary and in any case in the month before type approval testing and at least once every six months for verifying conformity of production.
She's still recuperating, like she was last month and the month before that.
This appropriation is intended to cover the secretarial allowance paid to officials and temporary staff in category C*, employed as shorthand-typists, telex operators, typesetters, executive secretaries or principal secretaries, who were entitled in the month before 1 May 2004.
This appropriation is intended to cover the secretarial allowance paid to officials and temporary staff in category C*, employed as shorthand-typists, telex operators, typesetters, executive secretaries or principal secretaries, who were entitled in the month before 1 May 2004.
For each of the quarters referred to in Annex I, licence applications may be lodged only from the second Monday of the month before the month preceding the quarter in question until the last Friday inclusive of that quarter.
And what about the month before that, and every other month?
like she was last month and the month before that.

Alternatives:

the previous month
the month prior
the month preceding

in the month before

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate an action or event that occurred during the month prior to a specific point in time.

This phrase is used to specify that an action or event took place within the month immediately preceding a particular point in time.