Moments before

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Moments before" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a very short time period prior to a specific event or action. Example: "Moments before the storm hit, the sky turned an ominous shade of gray."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Moments before, it had been rented.

The New York Times

Moments before, Piazza predicted that Bell would hit one out.

The New York Times - Sports

Moments before, the archduke sees a man with an accordion.

The New York Times - Books

Moments before, he had been flirting with his girlfriend.

Los Angeles Times

But hadn't he arrived only moments before?

The New Yorker

Only moments before, they had been speaking of spitting.

The Guardian - Books

Just moments before, I was special!

Forbes

Because we've had these moments before, but they've been moments.

Los Angeles Times

These workshops will take place at key moments before and after each phase of the project.

BMC Health Services Research

Moments before she was laughing and giggling.

The Guardian

Moments before Inauguration, January 20 , 2009

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Moments before" to create a sense of anticipation or immediacy in your writing. It's particularly effective when describing a pivotal event or a change in circumstances.

Common error

Avoid using "Moments before" with verbs in the future tense. The phrase indicates something that happened immediately prior to another event, implying the use of past tense for both actions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Moments before" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a noun or verb to indicate the timing of an action or event. It specifies that something occurred in the very recent past. As Ludwig AI states, this phrase is considered correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Academic sources

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "Moments before" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase that pinpoints events occurring in the very recent past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and appropriate expression, predominantly found in news and media sources, serving to create immediacy and context. When using this phrase, ensure the correct tense and consider alternatives like "just prior to" or "shortly before" for varied expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Just prior to

Emphasizes the immediate proximity in time, similar to "Moments before".

Right before

A more colloquial way of saying "Moments before".

Shortly before

Indicates a brief period preceding an event, slightly less immediate than "Moments before".

Immediately preceding

A more formal way to express the same temporal relationship, highlighting the direct sequence of events.

Seconds before

Specifies the time frame more precisely, focusing on the seconds leading up to an event.

In the lead-up to

Focuses on the period preparing for an event, rather than the instant before.

Preceding

A formal and concise way of saying "Before", without necessarily the same level of immediacy.

On the verge of

Highlights the imminence of an event, implying that it's about to happen.

On the brink of

Emphasizes that an event is about to occur and has the nuance of a dangerous situation.

Days before

Expands the time frame, referring to the days leading up to an event.

FAQs

How can I use "Moments before" in a sentence?

"Moments before" is used to indicate a very short time period before a specific event. For example, "Moments before the concert started, the crowd was buzzing with excitement".

What are some alternatives to "Moments before"?

You can use alternatives like "just prior to", "shortly before", or "immediately preceding" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "Moments before the future"?

While grammatically understandable, "Moments before the future" is not a common or idiomatic expression. It's better to specify the event happening in the future, such as "Moments before the launch".

What's the difference between "Moments before" and "A few moments before"?

"A few moments before" implies a slightly longer duration than "Moments before". While "Moments before" suggests immediacy, "A few moments before" allows for a bit more time to have passed.