I am prior

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I am prior" is not correct in standard written English.
It is unclear without context, but it may be intended to indicate a previous status or position. Example: "In this discussion, I must clarify that I am prior to the events that were mentioned."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I am who I am prior to -- you know, that I'm the same guy after the election that I was prior to the election.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"I'm the same guy after the election I was prior to the election," Mr. Bush said.

The New York Times

With a bit of luck I'll be right back where I was prior to the software update this afternoon.

TechCrunch

I'm still the exact same person as I was prior to the wheelchair.

Huffington Post

I am much more courageous than I was prior to joining Abasangiye.

Huffington Post

"I'm more optimistic about the current system than I was prior to Citizens United," said Republican strategist Keith Appell.

Huffington Post

I am grateful to Helen Gurley Brown for helping me to feel like a sexual creature instead of the Puritanical school teacher and Pan Am stewardess I was prior to meeting her.

Huffington Post

Coping better than I was prior.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

After separating, I slept with whoever I wanted, whenever I wanted, pretty much immediately because that's how I always was prior to the marriage.

Vice

In minutes, he'd sketched a map of my route: where I had been prior to India (at home in Providence), what cities I had visited (Delhi, Varanasi), where I had stayed (hotels, and yes, I have the receipts) and where I was going (Jerusalem, Bethlehem).

The New York Times - Magazine

Baseline factors that were significantly associated with hospitalization in the olanzapine-LAI group were: prior suicide threats with an odds ratio (OR) of 7.1 (95% CI: 2.2; 23.0), and previous hospitalization with an OR of 5.84 (95% CI: 1.92; 17.78).

BMC Psychiatry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "I am prior" in formal writing. Instead, use more common and grammatically correct alternatives like "I was previously" or "I used to be" to express a past state or condition.

Common error

Avoid confusing "prior" with adverbs like "previously" or "before". "Prior" typically requires a preposition such as "to" (e.g. "prior to the event"), while "previously" can stand alone to indicate something happened earlier.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I am prior" functions as an attempt to describe a state of being that existed at an earlier time. However, it does not conform to standard English grammar and is generally considered incorrect, as Ludwig AI clarifies. The correct usage would involve specifying what "prior" refers to, such as "prior to an event."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "I am prior" might seem like a concise way to express a past state, it's grammatically incorrect and not standard English. As Ludwig AI points out, it's best to avoid this phrase in both formal and informal writing. Instead, opt for clearer alternatives like "I was previously", "I used to be", or "I was formerly", depending on the intended context. Using "prior" correctly typically involves adding "to" to specify what you're referring to, such as "prior to the event". By avoiding this phrase and using more conventional language, you ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was formerly

Replaces "prior" with "formerly" to directly indicate a past state.

I used to be

Indicates a past condition or state that is no longer true.

I have previously been

Emphasizes a state that existed at some point in the past.

I was earlier

Focuses on a temporal relationship, indicating something was done or true at an earlier time.

I had been before

Highlights a state or condition that occurred before a specific point in time.

I existed as

Expresses a past form or identity.

Previously, I was

Reorders the sentence to start with an adverb indicating time.

In the past, I have been

More emphatic way to point out a past situation.

I precede

Uses the verb "precede" to show being before in rank or order

I am ahead

Uses the adjective "ahead" to show being prior

FAQs

What is a more grammatically correct alternative to "I am prior"?

More appropriate alternatives include "I was previously", "I used to be", or "I have been", depending on the specific context you intend to convey.

Is "I am prior" considered formal or informal language?

While technically understandable, "I am prior" is not standard English and should be avoided in both formal and informal contexts. Opt for clearer and more common alternatives like "I was formerly" or "I used to be".

How can I use "prior" correctly in a sentence?

To use "prior" correctly, include the preposition "to", for example: "prior to the event" or "prior to that". This indicates a time relationship before something else.

What's the difference between "I am prior" and "I was previously"?

"I am prior" is not grammatically correct. The phrase "I was previously" is the correct way to express that you held a certain position, state, or condition in the past.