a prior study

USAGE SUMMARY

"a prior study" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It refers to a study that was done or completed earlier or before the current one. Example: According to a prior study conducted by Smith et al. (2018), regular exercise has been shown to improve mental health.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A prior study observed improved hippocampal synapse structure and function in old heterochronic parabionts10.

Nature

A prior study has shown that CpG island methylation in the first exon is tightly linked to transcriptional silencing42.

Nature

In a prior study, Rozin found that people were unwilling to drink a favorite beverage into which a "fully sterilized" cockroach had been dipped.

The New Yorker

Second, we re-analysed data from a prior study of risk factors for ESBL-EK.

International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents

In a prior study, the researchers found a similar reduction in the risk of Type 2 diabetes of a healthful plant-based diet.

The New York Times - Health

A prior study using adaptive laboratory evolution to increase thermotolerance of S. cerevisiae took over 300 generatoons20 to achieve this phenotype.

Nature

We asked 401 U.S. adults to form a judgment before seeing the judgment of another participant selected at random from a prior study.

Harvard Business Review

Contrary to a prior study, this study didn't find any health benefits among participants with greater negative emodiversity.

University of California, Berkeley

The new research builds upon a prior study about collective intelligence by Malone and several of the same colleagues.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

A prior study suggested that antidepressants might increase the risk of hospitalization for pneumonia in the elderly.

Journal of Clinical Epidemiology

A prior study has demonstrated that several silica-based materials may be suitable alternatives that eliminate iron contamination.

Powder Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referencing "a prior study", always provide a clear citation or reference to the original source. This ensures transparency and allows readers to verify the information.

Common error

Avoid simply stating "a prior study showed..." without specifying which study you are referring to. Always include enough information for the reader to locate the original source, such as the author's name and year of publication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a prior study" functions as a noun phrase acting as a determiner followed by a noun. It is typically used to refer to a research paper or experiment that has been conducted and documented before the current discussion. Ludwig confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

57%

News & Media

24%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a prior study" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase, as verified by Ludwig, primarily found in scientific, news, and academic contexts. It serves to reference previous research, providing context and background information. When using the phrase, clarity and proper citation are crucial. Remember to explicitly identify the specific study you are referring to and avoid vague references. Alternatives include "a previous study" and "an earlier study". Ludwig's examples further illustrate its common usage across various disciplines.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a previous study

Replaces 'prior' with 'previous', maintaining the same meaning of something coming before.

an earlier study

Substitutes 'prior' with 'earlier', indicating a study conducted at an earlier time.

a preceding study

Uses 'preceding' in place of 'prior', denoting a study that came before the current one.

a foregoing study

Replaces 'prior' with 'foregoing', indicating a study that has gone before.

a past study

Uses 'past' instead of 'prior', referring to a study that happened in the past.

a preliminary study

Implies the study was done as a preparation or introduction to further research.

an initial study

Indicates the study was the first one conducted on the subject.

a pilot study

Suggests the study was a small-scale experiment to test the feasibility of a larger study.

an earlier investigation

Replaces both 'study' and 'prior' with synonyms, offering a more general alternative.

a background study

Implies the study provides context or foundational information for the current work.

FAQs

How do I properly cite "a prior study" in my writing?

Always include a full citation with the author's name, year of publication, and the title of the study. For example, "In "a prior study" (Smith et al., 2020), it was found that...". Follow the citation style required by your publication or institution.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "a prior study"?

You can use alternatives such as "a previous study", "an earlier study", or "a preceding study" depending on the context.

Is it necessary to always reference "a prior study"?

Yes, if you are using information or findings from another study, it is essential to give credit to the original authors by referencing their work. Failing to do so can be considered plagiarism.

How does "a prior study" differ from a systematic review?

A prior study typically focuses on a single research project or experiment, while a systematic review synthesizes the findings of multiple studies on a specific topic to provide a comprehensive overview of the existing evidence.