a previous meeting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a previous meeting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a meeting that took place before the current discussion or event. Example: "During a previous meeting, we discussed the budget for the upcoming project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

Hillary Clinton at a previous meeting with Gerry Adams, at the State Department, in 2009.

The New Yorker

At a previous meeting at the school, the children planted a sapling together.

The Guardian

Her company, Bari Jay, is six weeks into the switch she discussed at a previous meeting.

The New York Times

I have said at a previous meeting that photobiology will reach maturity when scientists introduce themselves foremost as photobiologists.

Stanford University

The British point out the difficulty of reaching by 2003 the goals laid out at a previous meeting in Helsinki.

The Economist

By Patrick Radden Keefe March 17, 2015 Hillary Clinton at a previous meeting with Gerry Adams, at the State Department, in 2009.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

This tie resonated more powerfully than any previous meeting between a non-league side and a member of the elite.

The Guardian - Sport

The new head of the Catholic Church is usually elected after the death of his predecessor, and there is no public record of any previous meeting between an incumbent pope and a former pope.

BBC

Jones had made five 3-pointers in the teams' previous meeting, a Heat victory last month.

The New York Times - Sports

It had won the only previous meeting, a 19-14 victony on Sept. 16.

The New York Times - Sports

They picked up where they left off in their previous meeting, a 4-2 MetroStars victory in East Rutherford, N.J., on June 17.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referencing "a previous meeting", ensure the context is clear. Specify the date, location, or topic of the meeting to avoid ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "a previous meeting" without providing sufficient context. Readers might not know which meeting you're referring to, leading to confusion. Add specifics to enhance clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a previous meeting" functions as a noun phrase acting as an object or complement within a sentence. It refers to a specific event that occurred before the current moment of discussion or action. As Ludwig AI shows, it commonly appears in contexts where past discussions are being referenced.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Academia

18%

Science

16%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a previous meeting" is a common and grammatically correct way to refer to a past meeting. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is frequently used across diverse sources, including news, academic, and scientific publications. When using this phrase, it's essential to provide enough context to ensure clarity. Alternative phrases like "an earlier meeting" or "a prior meeting" can be used to add variety. By considering the context, you can effectively utilize "a previous meeting" to connect past discussions with current events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an earlier meeting

Replaces "previous" with "earlier", emphasizing the time aspect.

a prior meeting

Substitutes "previous" with "prior", suggesting a meeting that precedes the current one in order or time.

a past meeting

Uses "past" instead of "previous", focusing on the meeting being in the past.

a foregoing meeting

Employs "foregoing", indicating a meeting that came before the present one.

a preceding meeting

Replaces "previous" with "preceding", highlighting the sequential order of the meeting.

a meeting held before

Rephrases the entire expression, emphasizing the timing of the meeting.

an aforementioned meeting

Uses "aforementioned" to refer to a meeting already mentioned.

a meeting in the past

More descriptive, directly stating the meeting occurred in the past.

the meeting before this one

Clarifies the reference point, indicating the meeting immediately before the current one.

a meeting that took place earlier

Expands the phrase to explicitly state the meeting's occurrence at an earlier time.

FAQs

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

You can use "a previous meeting" to refer to a meeting that happened before the current one. For example, "During "a previous meeting", we discussed the budget."

What's a more formal alternative to "a previous meeting"?

For a more formal tone, you could use phrases like "an earlier meeting" or "a prior engagement."

Is it okay to say "the previous meeting" instead of "a previous meeting"?

Yes, "the previous meeting" is acceptable if you are referring to a specific meeting that has already been mentioned or is clearly understood in the context.

What information should I include when referencing "a previous meeting"?

To avoid ambiguity, include details such as the date, location, or topic discussed in "a previous meeting".