a minute before

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a minute before" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase whenever you want to express that something happened just before a certain moment in time. For example: "I arrived at the store a minute before it opened."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Hold a minute before ordering.

The New York Times - Food

It's 45-41 Australia, with about a minute before halftime.

The New York Times

"I only had a minute before I had to skate.

The New York Times - Sports

But wait a minute before you sit down!

The New York Times - Science

He spoke for nearly a minute, before being escorted out.

The Guardian

With less than a minute before impact, passengers began screaming.

The Guardian

Luisa, stone-faced, waits a minute before responding.

The New Yorker

Mr. Hayes was presented first, a minute before 10 a.m.

The New York Times

And not a minute before, let's say, noon.

The New York Times

Cook for a minute before adding the wine.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Justice McKeon spoke for a minute before he headed back to the table.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a minute before" to create a sense of urgency or anticipation in your writing. For example, "The crowd held its breath a minute before the final whistle."

Common error

Avoid using "a minute before" interchangeably with phrases that imply a longer duration. "A minute before" indicates a very short interval, whereas "some time before" suggests a less precise and potentially longer period.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a minute before" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a specific point in time immediately preceding another. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Wiki

28%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a minute before" is a common and grammatically sound way to indicate a short time interval preceding an event. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and broad applicability. While more formal alternatives exist, "a minute before" is suitable for a wide range of contexts, as supported by its frequent use in news, general writing and science. Remember to use this phrase to precisely convey temporal relationships and create a sense of immediacy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

moments before

Emphasizes an even shorter duration than "a minute before".

seconds before

Specifies an even shorter time interval.

just prior to

A more formal alternative, indicating immediately before.

shortly before

Indicates a brief period preceding an event.

right before

Highlights the immediacy of the preceding event.

immediately preceding

A formal phrase emphasizing the direct sequence of events.

directly before

Implies a clear and unbroken temporal connection.

leading up to

Focuses on the period immediately before the main event.

in the moments before

Highlights the brevity and importance of the preceding period.

split seconds before

Suggests an extremely short interval before something occurs.

FAQs

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

Use "a minute before" to indicate something occurred shortly before a specific event or time. For instance, "I finished the race "a minute before" the rain started".

What are some alternatives to using "a minute before"?

Alternatives include "moments before", "just prior to", or "shortly before", depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

Is it better to say "a minute before" or "one minute before"?

"A minute before" is generally more common and natural in everyday speech and writing. "One minute before" is also correct but can sound slightly more formal or precise.

Can "a minute before" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "a minute before" is acceptable in most writing contexts, including formal writing. However, for very formal or scientific contexts, consider alternatives like "immediately preceding".