a previous offer

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a previous offer" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to an offer that was made before the current one being discussed. Example: "We appreciate your interest, but we must decline your proposal as it does not match the terms of a previous offer we received."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

[C4.] Another Bidder for Brokerage Unit of Instinet The investment firm Third Avenue Management has thrown its hat into the ring for the Instinet Group's institutional brokerage division, offering a 48percentt premium over a previous offer for the unit.

The New York Times

McAfee shareholders had rejected a previous offer.

The New York Times

Sirius rejected a previous offer by Mr. Ergen for control of the company.

The New York Times

He disclosed that he turned down a previous offer of ministerial office.

The Guardian

A previous offer had fallen through, said the listing agent, Paul Kolbusz of the Corcoran Group.

The New York Times

Network Associates made a previous offer of 0.78 share for each McAfee.com shares.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

In July the corporation offered a 2.8% annual pay rise, an increase on its previous offer of 2.6%.

The Guardian

Today's bid of 850p a share (including a 10p dividend) is an increase on Kraft's previous offer of around 770p in cash and shares, which Carr had previously described as derisory.

The Guardian - Business

Viktor Khristenko, Russia's deputy prime minister in charge of energy, said again that his government might be willing to reconsider its previous offer of a token cutback of 30,000 barrels a day in exports.

The New York Times

He noted that the new price was "a higher premium than our previous offer was on the date made, calculated on both a single- day and 30-day-moving-average basis".

The New York Times

The announcement of the deal, which values Cove at £1.22 billion ($1.91 billion), allowed PTT to trump a bid from Royal Dutch Shell, whose previous offer of £1.12 billion had been accepted by Cove Energy's board.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a previous offer" to set a benchmark against which new proposals are being evaluated.

Common error

Avoid using "a previous offer" without providing context. Ensure the audience knows which specific offer you are referring to in order to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a previous offer" functions as an adjective phrase modifying the noun 'offer'. It specifies that the offer in question occurred before the present time or the current offer under consideration. This is supported by Ludwig's examples where it's used to contrast different offers.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

20%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Science

3%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a previous offer" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to refer to an offer made before the current one. As Ludwig's AI analysis indicates, it is suitable for use in various contexts, particularly in news, formal business settings and encyclopedias. Related phrases include "an earlier proposal" and "a prior proposition". When using this phrase, ensure you provide sufficient context to avoid ambiguity and clearly state the differences between the previous and current offers. Avoid ambiguity using the guidance of the present analysis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an earlier proposal

Replaces 'previous' with 'earlier', emphasizing the temporal aspect of the offer.

a prior proposition

Uses 'prior' and 'proposition' to offer a slightly more formal alternative.

a former bid

Substitutes 'previous' with 'former' and 'offer' with 'bid', suitable in competitive contexts.

a past submission

Emphasizes the act of submitting an offer at an earlier time.

a preceding suggestion

Replaces 'offer' with 'suggestion', softening the commitment implied.

an initial offering

Focuses on the initial nature of the offer, highlighting it as the first one.

a preliminary tender

Uses 'preliminary' and 'tender' to suggest an early-stage or less firm offer.

a superseded offer

Indicates that the previous offer has been replaced by a new one.

a declined proposal

Highlights that the offer was not accepted.

a rejected bid

Specifically points out the offer was turned down.

FAQs

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

You can use "a previous offer" to compare it with a current one, such as: "The company's decision was influenced by "a previous offer" that had more favorable terms".

What's the difference between "a previous offer" and "a prior offer"?

"A prior offer" and "a previous offer" are very similar, both referring to an offer made before the current one. The choice often depends on stylistic preference, though "prior" might imply a slightly more formal context.

What can I say instead of "a previous offer"?

You can use alternatives like "an earlier proposal", "a former bid", or "a prior proposition" depending on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "the previous offer" instead of "a previous offer"?

Both are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "The previous offer" implies you are referring to a specific, already known offer, while ""a previous offer"" refers to one of the offers made at an earlier time. The choice depends on whether you are referring to something specific or general.