My question has to do with a debate between me and my co-workers. It’s March now, and occasionally I’ll hear someone on TV refer to an event that happened “last January”. Well, to me, “last January” means January '99, and if they meant January 2000, they should say “this past January”. Same for holidays. If you say “last Easter”, I always take it to mean Easter of last year. My co-workers, on the other hand, think I’m crazy. They maintain that “last” refers to “the most recent one” or “the one we just had”, same as saying “last week” or “last month”. If you mean something that happened the previous year, you say “a year ago” whatever. So, who’s right? I think their way is too vague and potentially confusing. What say, group?
True…I’ve heard both used interchangebly, but I think that ‘last’ January means the LAST January, so with it being now March it means Janurary of 2000. Much like last week means a week ago…but Im from Phoenix so that may not mean much…
For added fun, what about something that happened last millenium? Is that something that happened last year or 1000 years ago? And which answer relies on which principle?
It seems to me that January 2000 is too recent to refer to as “last January.” I would just say, “in January…”
I have sort of the same debate with my brother. When we were talking the other day, he kept referring to “this summer.” I assumed he meant this upcoming summer. Instead, he was saying “this summer” as shorthand for “this past summer,” summer of '99.
Of course, he also always talks about someone driving “up” here, South Carolina, from Kentucky. My other brother insists that making that drive would be driving “down,” I guess because we’re southward. Semantics are fun in our family.
I’m also with you on this one, Lor, but if someone says “last January” I always ask if they mean “this past January” just to be sure.
As with standing “in line” vs. “on line,” there’s probably a cultural slant to this.
Reilly:
We have a local company whose marquee says “Doing business in Gainesville since the 1900’s.” I personally think that means the period 1900-1909, but it’s a cute sign anyway.
I lead a boring life of relative unimportance. Really.
I’m with you regarding the “last January” thing. It also holds true for days of the week: I’ve heard people say “last Monday” to refer to the Monday that occurred two days ago.
What if we say “I’m going to Alaska next September”? To me that would mean September of 2001, but I guess to these people that would mean September 2000.
