a prior matter

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a prior matter" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a subject or issue that was previously discussed or considered before the current topic. Example: "Before we move on to the new agenda, let's address a prior matter that requires our attention."

✓ Grammatically correct

Law

General Discussion

Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In an action over the negligent testing of petroleum, a law firms representation of the plaintiff was found not to have a sufficiently substantial relationship to a prior matter in which the law firm had represented the defendant over a failure to follow instructions on the blending of petroleum products.

Cornell University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Setting aside questions with regards feasibility and acceptability, there is the prior matter of whether the costly and complex exercise of deriving a universal set of value-weights is the most efficient use of research dollars.

Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation

Raise the prior matter and reassure them as to why the things you didn't fulfill in the past are no longer an issue and why you deserve their trust back.

WikiHow

To conclude, for small data sets the choice of the prior matters for the posterior estimates of the parameters, as was also shown by e.g. Spiegelhalter et al [ 35].

BMC Medical Research Methodology

The Court cited, as a specific example of "purely private" matters, a prior case where it found that "videos of an employee engaging in sexually explicit acts" did not address a public concern; the videos "did nothing to inform the public".

Huffington Post

So, too, is the small matter of a prior engagement as Martin O'Neill's Ireland assistant at Euro 2016correct as domestic European qualifiers loom.

The Guardian - Sport

Nevertheless, this figure could be related to the fact that, in Italy, access to courses in a Faculty of Medicine requires a prior admission test on scientific matters.

BMC Public Health

The restored intersubjectivity that's right closes a period of trouble, while the recognition that's right claims knowledge of the matters addressed by a prior turn.

Journal of Pragmatics

The time-out works best if you have had a prior discussion of its benefits when matters may be getting too hot.

HuffPost

Thus, this application provides an example when the superiority of the π r 1 and π r 2 priors matters to the conclusion that in this data set the errors distribution is leptokurtic.

Journal of Statistical Distributions and Applications

In 1931, the landmark decision Near v. Minnesota established that, as a general matter, prior restraints—"government action[s] that prohibit speech or other expression before the speech happens"—are unconstitutional under the First Amendment.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When introducing "a prior matter", be specific about its relevance to the current discussion to maintain clarity and coherence.

Common error

Avoid vaguely referencing "a prior matter" without clearly linking it to the present discussion, as this can confuse your audience. Always provide enough context for readers to understand the connection.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a prior matter" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence or clause. It refers to an issue or topic that has been previously considered or addressed, as indicated by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

25%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a prior matter" is a noun phrase used to reference a previously discussed issue or topic. Ludwig indicates that it is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, although it's relatively rare in usage. While often neutral in tone, its formality can shift depending on the source, with legal and academic settings using it more formally. Alternative phrases such as ""a previous issue"" or ""an earlier concern"" can be used to convey a similar meaning. When employing this phrase, ensure that you provide sufficient context to maintain clarity for your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a previous issue

Replaces "matter" with the more general "issue".

an earlier concern

Substitutes "matter" with "concern", emphasizing worry or importance.

a past subject

Uses "subject" instead of "matter", focusing on the topic discussed.

a foregoing topic

Replaces "prior" with "foregoing", indicating something that precedes.

a preceding affair

Substitutes both "prior" and "matter" to provide a more formal alternative.

a former point

Uses "point" instead of "matter", highlighting a specific item in a discussion.

an antecedent question

Replaces "prior" with "antecedent", indicating something that existed before.

a preliminary item

Changes both "prior" and "matter" to suggest something that comes before as an initial step.

a historic case

Emphasizes the historical aspect of the matter, often used in legal or formal contexts.

an existing problem

Focuses on the problematic aspect of the matter, often used when discussing unresolved issues.

FAQs

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

You can use "a prior matter" to refer to something previously discussed or addressed. For example, "Before moving on, let's revisit "a prior matter" that needs resolution."

What phrases can I use instead of "a prior matter"?

Alternatives include "a previous issue", "an earlier concern", or "a past subject", depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "a prior matter" or "a previous matter"?

"A prior matter" and "a previous matter" are generally interchangeable, though "prior" might sound slightly more formal in some contexts.

When should I use "a prior matter" instead of "a future matter"?

Use "a prior matter" when referring to something that has already been discussed or addressed. Use "a future matter" when referring to something that will be discussed or addressed later.