a prior trial

USAGE SUMMARY

"a prior trial" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to refer to an earlier trial on the same subject, as in "Information from a prior trial was used in determining the verdict."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

In testimony from a prior trial that was read to the jurors yesterday, Mr. Schwarz admitted that he and Mr. Abbate had remained close friends.

The New York Times

Mr. Schwarz, whose convictions in two previous trials were overturned, is charged with helping Justin A. Volpe assault Mr. Louima and with lying about that role in a prior trial.

The New York Times

This conflicted with the statements being corroborated ($500) and respondent's testimony at a prior trial ($2,000 to $9,000), but for the purpose of independently establishing the crime charged the jury could accept this testimony.

Cornell University

In the Osborn case, the petitioner employed Robert Vick, a police officer of Nashville, Tennessee, to investigate persons who were members of a panel from which a federal criminal jury was to be selected in a prior trial of James Hoffa in that city.

Cornell University

We granted certiorari to resolve the question of whether an accused may be subjected to a second trial when conviction in a prior trial was reversed by an appellate court solely for lack of sufficient evidence to sustain the jury's verdict.

Cornell University

Seeding conditions included a total of 10, 20, 30, 40 or 50 cats, initial T. gondii prevalences in cats of 30, 60 or 90%, vaccination of 0, 50 or 75% of the cats and two vaccination schedules (the field schedule from a prior trial and a weaning-vaccination schedule).

Preventive Veterinary Medicine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Nevertheless, in a meta-analysis of all prior trials of surgical intervention for supratentorial ICH, no benefit was demonstrated [ 144].

Critical Care

The DSMC is comprised of a clinical expert with prior trial experience, a clinical trial methodologist, and a biostatistician.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Future research should consider prior trial participation a priori.

British Journal of Cancer

In the examples in Figure 2A, the small rightward deflection of horizontal eye velocity (arrowhead) in the red trace ('n-1' trial) was learned as the result of a rightward instruction in the prior trial ('n-2', not shown); the leftward deflection in the blue trace ('n' trial) was learned as the result of the leftward instruction on the 'n-1' trial.

eLife

Two neuropsychological tests were administered to subjects in this trial that had revealed topiramate-induced deficits in cognitive functioning in a prior clinical trial in alcohol dependent subjects (9).

American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In legal documents, ensure "a prior trial" is clearly distinguished from any appeals or subsequent hearings related to the same case.

Common error

Avoid misspelling "prior" as "pryer". "Prior" means 'earlier', while "pryer" is not a standard English word. Double-check your spelling, especially in formal writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a prior trial" functions as a noun phrase, specifically as a determiner + adjective + noun construction. It typically acts as an adjectival modifier to provide context, indicating that the trial being referenced occurred at an earlier point in time. Ludwig provides examples that confirm this usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

29%

Academia

21%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a prior trial" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase that serves to reference a previous legal proceeding. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions primarily to provide context or background information. The phrase is found across various domains, including science, news media, and academia, indicating its broad applicability. When using this phrase, ensure it's clear which trial is being referenced and avoid common misspellings. Consider alternatives like "a previous trial" or "an earlier trial" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a previous trial

Replaces "prior" with "previous", maintaining the same meaning.

an earlier trial

Substitutes "prior" with "earlier", indicating a trial that occurred before the current one.

a former trial

Uses "former" in place of "prior", suggesting a trial that happened in the past.

the preceding trial

Replaces "prior" with "preceding", emphasizing the trial that directly came before.

a past trial

Employs "past" instead of "prior", simply indicating a trial that has already taken place.

a preliminary hearing

Refers to a hearing before the actual trial. Broader concept than a full prior trial.

a prior legal proceeding

Replaces "trial" with "legal proceeding", broadening the scope to include other types of legal events.

a previous court case

Swaps "trial" with "court case", using a more general term for a legal dispute.

a prior adjudication

Replaces "trial" with "adjudication", using a more formal legal term.

an earlier legal action

Uses "legal action" instead of "trial", offering a broader term for legal proceedings.

FAQs

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

You can use "a prior trial" to refer to an earlier legal proceeding, as in "The judge reviewed evidence presented in "a prior trial" before making a decision".

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

"A prior trial" refers to a trial that happened earlier in time, while "a subsequent trial" refers to a trial that happens later, often as a result of an appeal or other legal action.

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

Alternatives include "a previous trial", "an earlier trial", or "a former trial", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "the prior trial" instead of "a prior trial"?

Yes, "the prior trial" is correct if you're referring to a specific trial that has already been mentioned or is otherwise understood in the context. "A prior trial" is used when introducing the concept for the first time.