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Is "this last year" proper English?

English Language & Usage Asked by ZaneHsu on August 28, 2020

I’ve admired @BernieSanders’ courage for 20 years and loved getting to know him this last year on the trail. —Pete Buttigieg

It seems to mean "in the past twelve months" according to my research.

4 Answers

I came across a very similar phase while reading Pride and Prejudice.

“Mr. Bennet, how can you abuse you own children in such a way? You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion for my poor nerves.”

“You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these last twenty years at least.”

Answered by user380645 on August 28, 2020

No, I do not think that "this last year" is proper English, but Buttigieg may have made a small mistake and typed "last" instead of "past."

Answered by Harry Potter on August 28, 2020

I've heard this last year before, and the phrase will be understood as "in the past twelve months".

That said, for some reason I can't articulate, this last year has always sounded inferior to these other options:

a. this past year

b. in the past/last year

Answered by listeneva on August 28, 2020

Is “this last year” proper English?

Yes, it means "in the 12 months prior to today"

This contrasts with "last year" which [currently, and in most contexts,] refers to the whole of 2019.

Have a look at the examples given in Google Ngram Viewer.

Answered by Greybeard on August 28, 2020

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