a prior of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a prior of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in contexts related to religious or monastic titles, referring to a person who holds a position of authority in a religious order. Example: "The prior of the monastery addressed the congregation during the evening service."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Anyone with a prior of zero about something can never learn from any amount of evidence, because anything multiplied by zero is still zero.

The Guardian

w is a vector with a prior of standard Gaussian distribution.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

Therefore the PDF of Y with a prior of π σ2) is given as.

Earth, Planets and Space

Thus, for Laplace distribution as a prior of signal, the high dispersiveness of energy will result in some undesired false targets.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Huang et al. [8] added a prior of group sparsity clustering as a new constraint in the process of sparse recovery and extended CS theory to manage dynamic background scenes efficiently.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Consider a prior of the form (4). Then the integrated likelihood for p is given by L I ( p ; y ) ∝ ∫ ℝ k ∫ 0 ∞ L ( β, σ, p ; y ) σ − a dσdβ.

Journal of Statistical Distributions and Applications

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Sometimes there is a prior pattern of domestic abuse.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

A prior assumption of zero probability can never be changed.

The Guardian

(vii)Reliance on a prior version of a withholding certificate.

Cornell University

None had a prior history of hypertension.

Critical Care

None had a prior history of malaria.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a prior of" in academic writing, ensure that the context clearly establishes what the prior knowledge or condition refers to. This improves clarity and avoids ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "a prior of" without clearly defining the reference point. For instance, stating "a prior of 1%" is meaningless unless the reader understands what that percentage represents (e.g., a prior probability).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a prior of" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a specification of a prior condition, assumption, or probability, particularly within statistical or analytical frameworks. Ludwig shows its use in diverse scientific contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

75%

Academia

15%

News & Media

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a prior of" is a prepositional phrase commonly used in scientific and academic writing to introduce a prior condition, assumption, or probability. As indicated by Ludwig, it functions to specify a pre-existing belief or value, particularly in statistical or analytical contexts. While grammatical and frequently encountered, clarity is crucial; always define the referent to avoid ambiguity. The phrase exhibits a formal and scientific register, predominantly appearing in academic papers and research reports. Understanding the contextual dependence is key to its correct application.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a preliminary to

This phrase suggests an initial step or action before something else.

a prerequisite for

This phrase emphasizes the necessity of something before another can occur.

an antecedent to

This phrase denotes something that precedes another in time or order.

a preceding element of

Highlights the order and sequence of elements.

a foundational aspect of

Emphasizes that something is a base or groundwork for later development.

a background for

Implies setting context or preparatory information.

a starting point for

Focuses on the initial stage or beginning.

a basis for

Indicates something serves as the underlying support or rationale.

a prior condition to

Specifies that something must exist or occur beforehand.

an initial assumption of

Highlights a belief or supposition held at the beginning.

FAQs

How is "a prior of" typically used in academic or scientific writing?

In these contexts, "a prior of" often introduces a prior probability or assumption used in Bayesian statistics or similar analytical frameworks. The phrase indicates a pre-existing belief or value assigned before new evidence is considered.

What are some contexts where I might encounter the phrase "a prior of"?

You're likely to encounter "a prior of" in scientific papers, statistical analyses, or philosophical discussions involving Bayesian inference. It's used to specify initial assumptions or probabilities before incorporating new data.

How can I avoid ambiguity when using "a prior of" in my writing?

Always clearly define what the prior refers to. For example, instead of saying "using "a prior of" 0.5", specify "using a prior probability of 0.5 for the event X".

Is there a difference between "a prior of" and "prior to"?

Yes, "a prior of" introduces a prior assumption or probability, whereas "prior to" indicates a temporal sequence, meaning 'before' something else happens.