10 exercises — how "last but not least" closes an enumeration while signaling equal importance, and how it differs from plain "lastly."
Quick reference
Last but not least: closes a list while signaling the final item is no less important
Fixed word order: "last" + "but" + "not" + "least" — never inflected or scrambled
Contrast: plain "lastly" is a neutral sequencer with no such reassurance
Needs a real list: shouldn't attach to a single, unrelated event
Register: neutral, common in both spoken presentations and written lists in docs
0 / 21 completed
1 / 21
A release note reads: "This release adds dark mode, fixes the export bug, improves load times, and, ___ , adds two-factor authentication." Which phrase best introduces the final item in a list without implying it's the least important?
Last but not least introduces the final item in a list while explicitly signaling that its position doesn't reflect low importance. The other options are not valid English phrases — they garble the fixed idiom into nonsense.
2 / 21
Which sentence uses "last but not least" correctly?
"We'd like to thank the backend team, the design team, the QA team, and, last but not least, the on-call engineers who kept things running during launch week" correctly closes a list of items, crediting the final one as no less important than the rest. It cannot introduce a bare future plan, an instruction, or a past time reference with no preceding list.
3 / 21
Fill the blank: "The migration required updating the schema, rewriting the ORM layer, retraining the team, and, ___ , writing a rollback plan."
Last but not least has a fixed word order: "last" + "but" + "not" + "least." The other options scramble this into invalid, non-idiomatic sequences.
4 / 21
Which pair correctly distinguishes "last but not least" from simply "lastly"?
"Last but not least" carries a built-in reassurance: "We reviewed security, performance, and, last but not least, accessibility." Plain "lastly" is neutral and sequencing-only: "Lastly, we ran the load test." Swapping them changes whether you're implying the final item deserves equal weight.
5 / 21
A design doc reads: "The new API must be backward-compatible, well-documented, rate-limited and, ___ , observable." Which best completes the sentence?
Last but not least is the correct, fixed form. The other options scramble the required word order into non-idiomatic phrases.
6 / 21
Which sentence contains an error in the use of "last but not least"?
"Last but not least that we discussed at the offsite, the server rebooted overnight" incorrectly attaches a relative clause and applies the idiom to a single unrelated event rather than the final item in an enumerated list. The other three sentences use it correctly, each closing a genuine list.
7 / 21
Choose the sentence where "last but not least" is best replaced by "and equally important" without changing the meaning.
"…and, equally important, boosts mobile conversion" preserves the meaning exactly, closing out a genuine list of benefits. The other options misuse the phrase as an urgency marker, an unrelated possessive-sounding construction, or a pairing with a specific future date.
8 / 21
A postmortem states: "We're improving alert thresholds, adding a staging gate, documenting the runbook, and, ___ , scheduling quarterly game days." Which best fits?
Last but not least is the correct, fixed form — none of the four words are inflected. Option A wrongly pluralizes "last" as a verb. Option B wrongly pluralizes "least." Option D wrongly replaces "not" with "no."
9 / 21
Which register note about "last but not least" is accurate?
"Last but not least" is a neutral phrase equally at home in spoken presentations ("…and last but not least, thanks to everyone on support") and written lists in design docs. It always closes an enumeration while reassuring the audience the final item matters just as much as the earlier ones.
10 / 21
Which sentence best demonstrates "last but not least" closing a list of technical review criteria?
"Before merging, we check for correctness, test coverage, code style, and, last but not least, whether the change is actually necessary" is the textbook use: closing a genuine list while treating the final criterion as no less important. The other options misuse the phrase as a command intensifier, insert it awkwardly mid-clause, or pair it incorrectly with a specific future date.
11 / 21
Reviewer: 'Okay, the authentication flow is solid. But let's not forget to add logging for debugging purposes, last but not least.' What does this comment primarily emphasize?
'Last but not least' signals that while other aspects are significant, this item deserves attention and shouldn't be overlooked. The comment isn't about prioritization in a strict sense; it emphasizes the importance of logging as a valuable debugging tool. The phrasing suggests an element deserving consideration alongside others.
12 / 21
Sarah (Lead Developer): 'We've finalized the database schema, implemented the API endpoints, and tested the core functionality. Last but not least, we need to implement proper error handling.' Which of the following best captures Sarah's sentiment?
'Last but not least' indicates an element of equal importance to those that came before it. It doesn't imply a hierarchy of priority; rather, it suggests a final, crucial step within a complete set of actions. The phrasing underlines the final item's significance alongside previously completed tasks.
13 / 21
Reviewer: 'Okay, the authentication flow is solid. But let's not forget to add logging for debugging purposes, last but not least.' What does this comment primarily emphasize?
'Last but not least' signals that while other aspects are significant, this item deserves attention and shouldn't be overlooked. The comment isn't about prioritization in a strict sense; it emphasizes the importance of logging as a valuable debugging tool. The phrasing suggests an element deserving consideration alongside others.
14 / 21
Sarah (Lead Developer): 'We've finalized the database schema, implemented the API endpoints, and tested the core functionality. Last but not least, we need to implement proper error handling.' Which of the following best captures Sarah's sentiment?
'Last but not least' indicates an element of equal importance to those that came before it. It doesn't imply a hierarchy of priority; rather, it suggests a final, crucial step within a complete set of actions. The phrasing underlines the final item's significance alongside previously completed tasks.
15 / 21
Reviewer: 'Okay, the authentication flow is solid. But let's not forget to add logging for debugging purposes, last but not least.' What does this comment primarily emphasize?
'Last but not least' signals that while other aspects are significant, this item deserves attention and shouldn't be overlooked. The comment isn't about prioritization in a strict sense; it emphasizes the importance of logging as a valuable debugging tool. The phrasing suggests an element deserving consideration alongside others.
16 / 21
Sarah (Lead Developer): 'We've finalized the database schema, implemented the API endpoints, and tested the core functionality. Last but not least, we need to implement proper error handling.' Which of the following best captures Sarah's sentiment?
'Last but not least' indicates an element of equal importance to those that came before it. It doesn't imply a hierarchy of priority; rather, it suggests a final, crucial step within a complete set of actions. The phrasing underlines the final item's significance alongside previously completed tasks.
17 / 21
The team is discussing a potential performance bottleneck. Which sentence best reflects the use of 'last but not least' in this context?
'Last but not least' indicates something important that shouldn't be overlooked, even after other actions have been completed. Option 0 correctly uses it to emphasize a critical issue needing attention despite prior work. Options 1 & 2 use the phrase in inappropriate contexts (finishing up vs. project completion).
18 / 21
The release manager needs to ensure a smooth deployment. The checklist includes updating the documentation, testing the integration, and, _______, verifying server capacity.
'Last but not least' signals an important final step. 'Finally' best fits this context, indicating a crucial verification before the deployment proceeds. The other options don't align with the emphasis of ensuring a smooth release.
19 / 21
A code reviewer comments: 'The API endpoint is functional, but last but not least, we need to implement proper error handling.' What is the primary emphasis of this comment?
The phrase 'last but not least' highlights something that is absolutely essential. Option 2 correctly identifies error handling as a crucial aspect of API design – often overlooked but vital for robustness. The other options suggest alternative priorities.
20 / 21
During a sprint retrospective, the team discusses their progress. Which statement best demonstrates the correct use of 'last but not least'?
'Last but not least' is used here to draw attention to an important area needing improvement – code quality. This highlights a critical issue that should be addressed despite the overall sprint success. The other options use the phrase inappropriately.
21 / 21
A technical lead is writing a summary of the project's key accomplishments. Which sentence uses 'last but not least' most effectively?
Using 'last but not least' here emphasizes an important recognition – acknowledging junior developers' contributions. This highlights a final and significant aspect of the project's success that deserves attention. The other options misrepresent its use.
What will I practise in ""Last But Not Least" as a List-Final Marker — IT English Grammar"?
Practice using "last but not least" to close a list of items in release notes, design docs, and checklists while crediting the final item's importance.
How many exercises are in this module?
This module has 21 multiple-choice exercises, each with instant feedback and a full explanation of the correct answer.
Is this exercise free to use?
Yes. Every exercise on CoderSlingo, including this one, is free to use with no account, sign-up, or paywall.
Do I need to create an account to do these exercises?
No account is required. Just click an option to answer — your score for this session is tracked automatically in the progress bar above.
What happens if I choose the wrong answer?
You'll immediately see which answer was correct, plus a full explanation covering the grammar rule and reasoning behind it — mistakes are where most of the learning happens.
Can I retry the exercises if I want a higher score?
Yes — use the "Try again" button on the results screen to reset and go through all the questions again.
Is my progress saved if I close the page?
No. Progress is tracked only for your current visit; reloading or leaving the page resets the counter. This keeps the exercise simple and account-free.
Where can I find more Grammar exercises?
Browse the full Grammar hub for related drills, or check the "Next up" link below to continue with a connected topic.
How is this different from reading an article on the same topic?
Articles explain grammar rules in prose; this exercise tests and reinforces those rules through active recall with immediate feedback — the two work best together.
Who writes these exercises?
Every exercise is written by the CoderSlingo team, drawing on real workplace English used in IT roles, then reviewed for accuracy and clarity.