Not long before

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Not long before" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something happened shortly prior to another event or moment in time. Example: "Not long before the meeting started, I received an important email that changed everything."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Not long before Christmas, Todd Bates drowned.

The New York Times - Sports

Not long before dawn on Wednesday, legislators finished their work.

The New York Times

Not long before, during construction, the shelter had collapsed.

The Guardian - Travel

Not long before her death, Grannis had the chance to vote for the first time.

The New York Times

Not long before her death, doctors removed some of her tumor cells.

The New York Times - Science

Not long before their challenge begins.

BBC

Not long before we confirm the Secretary of Social Media by direct message.

TechCrunch

Not long before that, there had been a scuffle.

Vice

Not long before the battle began, Lee's force encountered another mishap.

Wikipedia

It was not long before it leaked.

Independent

His parents had divorced not long before.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not long before" to create a sense of anticipation or immediacy, linking two events that are closely related in time.

Common error

Avoid using "not long before" when the time difference between the events is significant. It implies a close temporal connection.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not long before" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the timing of an event. It introduces a temporal relationship, specifying that an action or state occurred shortly before another. This is supported by Ludwig, which provides numerous examples of its usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not long before" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate that something happened shortly prior to another event. As indicated by Ludwig, it functions as an adverbial phrase used to specify a chronological sequence, often creating a sense of anticipation or immediacy. While versatile, it's essential to ensure a close temporal relationship between the connected events, and according to Ludwig's AI, it's readily usable in various writing contexts. Consider using alternatives like "shortly prior to" or "just before" for variety. Remember to use the phrase appropriately to maintain clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Immediately prior

Highlights the temporal proximity of two events.

Shortly prior to

Emphasizes the brief interval between two events, providing a more formal tone.

Just preceding

Highlights the immediate sequence of events, suggesting a direct connection.

Right before

Offers a straightforward and common way to indicate a preceding event.

A little earlier

Offers a less formal way to indicate a recent past event.

Just a while ago

Implies a short duration between two events, using informal language.

Not so long ago

Implies a relatively recent event, focusing on the elapsed time.

In the time leading up to

Suggests a period of time immediately preceding a specific event.

In the moments before

Emphasizes the very short period of time before an event.

Close to when

Indicates that something happened near to a specific time or event.

FAQs

What does "not long before" mean?

The phrase "not long before" indicates that something happened a short time prior to another event. It emphasizes the close proximity in time between two occurrences.

How can I use "not long before" in a sentence?

You can use "not long before" to connect two events that happened close together in time. For example, "Not long before the rain started, we arrived home."

What can I say instead of "not long before"?

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

What's the difference between "not long before" and "a long time before"?

"Not long before" implies that something happened recently relative to another event, while "a long time before" suggests a significant gap in time between two occurrences.