November 2015 vs November 2016

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Winwin2011

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We would say "November 2015" as last November. Is it natural to say "November 2016" as "November this year? I wonder how natural speakers say "November 2016".
 

emsr2d2

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While it's still December, I'd just say "November".

"I went to Spain in November."

It would be clear that I mean November 2016. I would probably continue to use that up until perhaps March or April 2017. After that, I'd probably say "... last November". For any further back than that, I'd use the year. "I went to Spain in September 2015".
 

Raymott

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You can also say "back in November", in the same circumstances as above.
 

emsr2d2

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I would probably have to clarify the meaning if someone said to me "I went on holiday last November". I wouldn't be entirely sure whether they meant November 2016 or November 2015.
 

GoesStation

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In American English, last November means "the November that occurred more than a few months ago". If someone mentioned last November to me today, January 1st, 2017, I would understand it as November 2015.

They'd just say November for November 2016.
 

Tdol

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Many, but not all, would agree in BrE. At this time of year, I go with Piscean's view. Give it a couple of months and I would be unsure.
 

bubbha

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I think 'last November' refers to 'November 2016' because 'last' refers to the one that is 'most recent or nearest to the present time' ── quoted from http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/last
I disagree. A few months need to pass first.

In December 2016, I'd interpret "last November" to be "November 2015". But there may still be some ambiguity there, especially if the speaker was clearly not native.

To be completely unambiguous when referring to the most recent November, say "this past November".

Or just use the past tense: "In November I was/did/etc."
 

emsr2d2

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GoesStation, if I said that I went to China last November and the [STRIKE]time[/STRIKE] date is now [STRIKE]2st[/STRIKE] 2nd January 2017, [STRIKE]Do[/STRIKE] would you think [STRIKE]it is[/STRIKE] I meant November 2016 or November 2015?

Polyester, please note my multiple corrections to your post above.
 
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