Just prior

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Just prior" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a time just before a specific event or moment occurs. Example: "Just prior to the meeting, I reviewed all the necessary documents to ensure I was prepared."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Just prior to serving, lightly dust a little cocoa powder over the top.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Just prior to joining Vindicia, Sanjay was CEO at Above All Software.

The Guardian

Just prior to being heckled.

Vice

Just prior to shipping, the order was cancelled.

Huffington Post

Just prior to euthanasia, CVS and CVL were collected.

BMC Veterinary Research

He reenlisted just prior to the Korean War.

The New York Times

Super Aguri was thrown together in a matter of weeks just prior to the 2006 season.

The New York Times

Mix the rest of the ingredients together and sprinkle all over just prior to smoking.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Perry endorsed Gingrich prior to the debate and just prior to Gingrich's ex-wife's interview.

The Guardian - Opinion

But his message has been delivered just prior to the last sitting weeks of parliament.

The Guardian

We're speaking just prior to Sleigh Bells' appearance on Saturday Night Live.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Just prior" to clearly indicate the sequence of events, emphasizing that one action occurred immediately before another. This helps to avoid ambiguity in timelines and ensures clarity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "Just prior" interchangeably with phrases that imply a longer duration before an event, such as "long before" or "well in advance". "Just prior" specifies a very short interval.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Just prior" functions as a prepositional phrase or an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify when an action occurred. It clarifies the timing of an event, indicating it happened immediately before another. Ludwig confirms the correct use and grammatical status of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

46%

News & Media

44%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "Just prior" is a grammatically sound and very common way to indicate that something occurred immediately before another event. As Ludwig AI states, it is usable in written English to show proximity in time. Predominantly found in scientific and news-related contexts, "Just prior" serves to provide temporal clarity and emphasize the sequence of actions. While alternatives like "immediately before" or "right before" can be used, "Just prior" maintains a formal tone suitable for various writing styles. Ensure it is used to denote brief intervals to avoid misinterpretations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Immediately before

Emphasizes the lack of time between the two events. It is more direct and less formal.

Right before

Very similar but slightly more informal. Conveys immediacy and proximity in time.

Shortly before

Indicates a brief period of time preceding an event, similar to "Just prior" but less precise.

Immediately preceding

More formal and emphasizes the sequence of events, suitable for technical or legal contexts.

Directly preceding

Similar to 'immediately preceding' but slightly less formal. Highlights the direct temporal connection.

In anticipation of

Highlights the expectation or preparation for something that will follow.

On the verge of

Emphasizes closeness to the event, implying imminence.

Leading up to

Focuses on the period or events that precede the main event, not just the immediate moment.

In advance of

Indicates preparation or action taken some time before an event, not necessarily immediately before.

Preliminary to

Suggests that something serves as a preparation or introduction for something else.

FAQs

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

"Just prior" is used to indicate that something happened immediately before something else. For example, "Just prior to the meeting, I reviewed the documents".

What are some alternatives to "Just prior"?

Alternatives include "immediately before", "right before", or "shortly before", depending on the context and the level of formality desired.

Is it redundant to say "Just prior to"?

While "prior to" already implies a time before, adding "just" emphasizes the immediacy and closeness in time between the two events. It's not strictly redundant, but it can be more emphatic.

What's the difference between "Just prior" and "Earlier"?

"Just prior" indicates a very short time before a specific event, whereas "earlier" implies a more general time in the past, without specifying how close it was to a particular event.