'last time' vs 'next time'

[Tan Elaine]

It is not correct to say "Last time you were lazy." I have to use "Formerly..."

Is it correct to say "Next time you will be punished if you misbehave".
OR should I say "In future you will be punished if you misbehave"?

Thanks.

[Mr_Ben]

It is not correct to say "Last time you were lazy." I have to use "Formerly..."

Last time refers to one specific time. Formerly means the person had a habit of being lazy which now is gone.

Is it correct to say "Next time you will be punished if you misbehave".
OR should I say "In the future you will be punished if you misbehave"?

Thanks.

Both are correct. Again, the first sentence refers to only the next time and the second talks about the future in general. However, most speakers understand that the first sentence also implies the future in general as well as the next time specifically.

[euncu]

I hope you don't take it as a thread -hijkacking because I had a question in my mind, which is slightly different version of that of the op. I was writing a business email and there was this necessity to refer to my previous email. I wasn't sure whether I should have used "on my latest" or "on my last" email. I'd appreciate it if you help me figure out which one is correct.

[SoothingDave]

"Last" sounds most natural to me. There is some potential for confusion, because if you are writing a new email, it is your "latest," not the previous one.

I'd also say "in" an email, not "on" it.

[luschen]

I would probably say "my previous email", but thinking about it now, I realize that could refer to any email I sent in the past.

[euncu]

I'd also say "in" an email, not "on" it.

Thank you for correcting this critical error of mine. I used to use it while I was thinking that I'd been sending emails with decent English. Luckily they were Germans not native-speakers with whom I'd been corrresponing. Or they were showing me some courtesy by not hinting at my supposedly-decent English. I guess I've been misled by the word on-line itself.

[Tan Elaine]

Thanks, Mr Ben.

Originally Posted by Tan Elaine
Is it correct to say "Next time you will be punished if you misbehave".
OR should I say "In the future you will be punished if you misbehave"?

I believe "In the future" is American English, while "In future" is British English. Correct me if I am wrong.

Thanks.

[SoothingDave]

"In the future" is American.

[5jj]

I use 'in future' to suggest 'from now on', 'in the future' to suggest 'at some future time'. 'In the future' is, for me, a forward-looking version of the backward-looking 'in the past'. My British acquaintances appear to do the same.