a previous consultation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a previous consultation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a consultation that took place before the current discussion or meeting. Example: "During our meeting, we will review the findings from a previous consultation to inform our decisions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

The workshops in Peckham have provided invaluable material: two girls from a previous consultation of this kind, who are still active in gangs, helped to shape two of the film's central characters including Danielle.

Independent

However, it is currently re-consulting on the package after the High Court upheld concerns from anti-HS2 campaigners about how a previous consultation was carried out.

BBC

Based on a previous consultation exercise with key stakeholders in maternity care, a semi-structured topic guide was developed for use during the interviews.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Whether or not patients had met a student in a previous consultation did not significantly influence the distribution of their answers (data not shown).

BMC Medical Education

Providers could also indicate if they had provided an intervention to the patient in a previous consultation (in the case of review visits).

BMC Public Health

Only very acute diseases, like heart attack, will be directly admitted at the hospital without a previous consultation at the EPC.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

A GP episode was counted as the first in a series of consultations for a particular diagnosis/diagnostic group which took place after a minimum of 28 days following any previous consultation for that same diagnosis/diagnostic group.

BMC Infectious Diseases

This followed a notice printed in "Osservatore Romano," which said that the declaration read by the Austrian clergy had been "drawn up without any previous consultation or subsequent approval of the Holy See".

The New York Times

To achieve a correct informed consent procedure, they either have to offer an additional previous consultation or to share the task with another medical professional, such as the referring physician [6].

Insights into Imaging

Rather than a patient's previous consultation history for musculoskeletal conditions, it appeared that the clinician's knowledge of previous analgesic medication affected their prescribing.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Previous consultation for a musculoskeletal problem was defined as having a recorded musculoskeletal consultation in the period 12 to 24 months before the baseline musculoskeletal consultation.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referencing "a previous consultation", ensure the context clearly establishes what was discussed and how it relates to the current situation. This helps avoid confusion and provides necessary background information.

Common error

Avoid mentioning "a previous consultation" if its details are not relevant or if the audience is unfamiliar with it. Providing unnecessary background can clutter your message and confuse your reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a previous consultation" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as an adjective modifier. It typically identifies or describes a specific instance of consultation that occurred before the current moment, action, or discussion. Ludwig AI confirms the correct usage of this phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a previous consultation" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase that serves to reference an earlier meeting or discussion. According to Ludwig, the phrase is valid in written English. It is most frequently encountered in scientific, news, and business contexts. To ensure clarity, provide sufficient context when using this phrase and remember that alternatives like "an earlier consultation" or "a prior consultation" may be suitable depending on the tone and audience. Avoid using the phrase if the details of the consultation are not relevant to the current discussion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an earlier consultation

Uses "earlier" instead of "previous", slightly altering the temporal aspect.

a prior consultation

Replaces "previous" with "prior", maintaining formal tone and meaning.

a past consultation

Substitutes "previous" with "past", making the phrase slightly more informal.

a preceding consultation

Employs "preceding" instead of "previous", maintaining a formal and precise tone.

a former consultation

Utilizes "former" to indicate the consultation happened in the past.

a preliminary consultation

Indicates the consultation was initial or preparatory, implying a specific role.

a prior meeting

Replaces "consultation" with "meeting", broadening the context slightly.

an earlier appointment

Substitutes "consultation" with "appointment", suitable in medical or professional contexts.

a historical consultation

Uses "historical" to emphasize the consultation occurred long ago, adding a sense of distance.

a consultation in the past

Expands the phrase to explicitly state the consultation's occurrence in the past.

FAQs

How can I use "a previous consultation" in a sentence?

You can use "a previous consultation" to refer back to a meeting or discussion that has already taken place, for example: "Based on "a previous consultation" with the patient, we have decided to proceed with the surgery".

What's the difference between "a previous consultation" and "an earlier consultation"?

While both phrases are similar, ""a previous consultation"" is generally used in more formal contexts. "An earlier consultation" is a more common and slightly less formal alternative.

What are some alternatives to using the phrase "a previous consultation"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "a prior consultation", "a past consultation", or "a former consultation".

Is it correct to say "previous consultation" without the article "a"?

While omitting the article "a" might be acceptable in some informal contexts, it's generally more grammatically correct and clearer to use ""a previous consultation"" or "the previous consultation", depending on whether you're referring to a specific, already-mentioned consultation.