a previous person

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a previous person" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It could be used in contexts where you want to refer to someone who held a position or role before the current individual, but it is better to specify the context. Example: "The decisions made by a previous person in this role have greatly influenced our current strategy."

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

We got abit of luck to progress to the quarter's and as a previous person said, the luck ran out and thankfully we are on our way home because it would of got even more embarrassing against the German's.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Each person who held the ball selected an object from the previous person's story (a doll, a book, a favorite dress) to work into their own story.

The Washington Post

Collaborative short story writing, or exquisite corpse (a Dada-ist game where each person sequentially writes a line based on a line written by the previous person), never had it so easy.

Vice

That's fine of course -- but don't use the previous person as a "yardstick" against which you are measuring prospective dates.

HuffPost

She made the 110.36-mile swim without the protection of a shark cage, surpassing the only previous person to negotiate the strait, Susie Maroney, who made the crossing in 1997 with the benefit of the cage.

The Guardian

An HPS case was suspected in a previous healthy person with an acute febrile illness (temperature >38°C), associated with dyspnea, acute respiratory distress syndrome with pulmonary noncardiogenic edema, or interstitial bilateral infiltrates, hypotension or shock, elevated leukocyte count, and thrombocytopenia (21 ).

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Many Palestinians try to speed this up a bit by starting their walk just before the previous person moves on from the sandbags.

The Guardian

After you obtain it from them, tell the PREVIOUS person that the other person gave it to you and then the previous person will feel bad.

WikiHow

He handed me my 30p, along with the 30p of the previous person who'd attempted entry.

The Guardian - Opinion

"People have pre-conceived notions about you, and pre-conceived notions of what you should do because of what the previous person was doing".

The New Yorker

Whereas Chop't uses a new cutting board for each salad, Misener has seen Just Salad reuse them, "which means I've often found stray broccoli remnants from the previous person's salad in my order".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a previous person", consider whether a more specific term like "predecessor", "former employee", or "prior occupant" would provide clearer context and improve readability. Precision is key.

Common error

Avoid using "a previous person" when the context requires a more defined role or relationship. Failing to specify can lead to ambiguity and confusion for the reader. For example, specify if the previous person was "a former manager" or "the previous owner".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a previous person" functions as a noun phrase, acting as a general reference to an individual who preceded the current one in a specific role, situation, or context. Ludwig indicates it can sound awkward and benefits from being more specific.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while grammatically correct, the phrase "a previous person" is often considered vague and less impactful than more specific alternatives. Ludwig suggests it can sound awkward, and replacing it with terms like "predecessor", "former employee", or "prior occupant" can significantly improve clarity and precision in writing. The phrase appears across various contexts, including news, business, and scientific domains, but specificity is always preferred. While not inherently incorrect, opting for a more descriptive term will make your writing more effective.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

The predecessor

A more formal term for someone who came before in a role or position.

The previous incumbent

Specifically used when referring to a position or office.

The preceding individual

More formal and emphasizes the order or sequence.

The former person

Highlights that the person is no longer in the role or position.

The person previously in charge

More descriptive and emphasizes the role of being in charge.

The prior occupant

Specifically refers to someone who occupied a place or position before.

The individual before

Simple and direct, focusing on the sequence.

The last person

Emphasizes that this was the most recent person to hold the position.

The earlier person

Highlights that they came at an earlier time. Can refer to two or more.

Someone before

Informal and general, referring to anyone who came earlier.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "a previous person"?

Alternatives include "predecessor", "former person", "prior individual", or "previous incumbent". The best choice depends on the context.

Is "a previous person" grammatically correct?

Yes, "a previous person" is grammatically correct, but it might sound awkward or vague in some contexts. Consider using a more specific term for clarity.

When is it appropriate to use "a previous person"?

It's appropriate when you want to refer generally to someone who held a position or role before the current individual and further details are not available. However, more specific terms are usually preferable.

How can I make my writing sound more precise than using "a previous person"?

Instead of "a previous person", specify the role or relationship, such as "the former CEO", "my predecessor", or "the previous tenant". This adds clarity and context.