a prior examination

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a prior examination" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to an examination or assessment that took place before the current one being discussed. Example: "Before proceeding with the treatment, the doctor reviewed a prior examination to understand the patient's condition better."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Did they voluntarily enroll in the program and did they have to pass a prior examination?

Annals of Surgery

One might speculate that surgical trainees who were voluntarily enrolled (with or without a prior examination) could be a priori selected students (the most motivated ones and with the best performances of their generation).

Annals of Surgery

The overall HPV positivity in our study was even slightly higher given that a highly sensitive PCR technology was used [ 19] along with a prior examination of the tissue sections by pathologists to ensure the quality of the specimens before continuing onto testing.

BMC Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Retrieving a patient's prior examination images that are relevant to the current ones is a critical component in radiologists' primary examination reading services.

Decision Support Systems

According to Cress and colleagues [ 32], a prior medical examination is not required for asymptomatic seniors taking up light exercise.

BMC Geriatrics

Prior examination of inter-professional teams have shown that collaboration is a complex and dynamic process [ 21].

BMC Palliative Care

But in those trials, which I attended, Jordan appeared to violate the treaty by introducing without prior examination the very evidence it promised not to.

Huffington Post

First of all, the drugs are given without prior examination of the child which may result in ineffective treatment.

BMC Health Services Research

Genetic testing provides the final confirmation of clinical suspicions or constitutes an essential addition to prior examinations performed to reach a clinical diagnosis [ 4, 5].

BioMed Research International

Pulmonary auscultation was unchanged compared to prior examinations with a diffuse prolonged expiration and occasional rales but no crepitations.

BMC Cancer

Funduscopic exam was unchanged from prior examinations, demonstrating extensive macular pigment atrophy bilaterally without hemorrhage.

Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a prior examination", ensure that the context clearly establishes what is being examined and why the prior examination is relevant to the current situation. This helps avoid ambiguity and adds clarity to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "a prior examination" when a simpler term like "previous review" or "earlier assessment" would suffice. Overusing formal language can make your writing sound pretentious or unnecessarily complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a prior examination" primarily functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the object of a verb or the subject of a clause. It refers to a previous assessment or investigation, as evidenced by the examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

12%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a prior examination" is a noun phrase generally used to reference a previous assessment or investigation. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase functions to provide context or background information. Its usage tends to be formal, often appearing in scientific and medical contexts. While grammatically correct, it's important to consider whether a simpler alternative would be more appropriate for less formal writing. Ludwig examples also show its use in a variety of scientific domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a preceding assessment

Replaces "examination" with "assessment" and "prior" with "preceding" for a more general term.

a preliminary review

Substitutes "examination" with "review" and "prior" with "preliminary", indicating an initial overview.

a previous evaluation

Replaces "examination" with "evaluation" and "prior" with "previous" to emphasize a formal judgment.

an earlier inspection

Substitutes "examination" with "inspection" and "prior" with "earlier", suggesting a visual check.

a pre-existing study

Replaces "examination" with "study" and "prior" with "pre-existing", focusing on a scholarly analysis already conducted.

a baseline assessment

Replaces "prior examination" with "baseline assessment" to emphasize a starting point measurement.

a historic analysis

Replaces "prior examination" with "historic analysis", emphasizing a study from the past.

an initial check-up

Substitutes "examination" with "check-up" and "prior" with "initial", indicating a basic health assessment.

a preceding investigation

Replaces "examination" with "investigation" and "prior" with "preceding", suggesting a more in-depth inquiry.

a primary inspection

Replaces "prior" with "primary", denoting that it was the first examination done.

FAQs

How can I use "a prior examination" in a sentence?

You might say, "The doctor reviewed "a prior examination" to understand the patient's medical history" or "The findings from "a prior examination" influenced the current treatment plan".

What's the difference between "a prior examination" and "a subsequent examination"?

"A prior examination" refers to an examination that occurred earlier in time, while "a subsequent examination" refers to one that occurs later. One looks backward, the other forward.

What can I say instead of "a prior examination"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "a previous evaluation", "an earlier assessment", or "a preliminary review".

Is "prior examination" formal language?

Yes, "prior examination" leans towards formal usage, especially in medical, legal, or academic settings. In everyday conversations, "previous" or "earlier" might sound more natural.