a short while before

USAGE SUMMARY

"a short while before" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to a time in the past that was close in proximity to the present moment. For example: "I had been in the same city just a short while before."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Or the people who had been about to sit down to breakfast a short while before might return.

The New Yorker

Another rocket had fallen in a nearby street a short while before, outside the home of Shula Dahan, 56.

The New York Times

A short while before, three other regional directors — the state has six — who were in their early to-mid-60s retired.

The New York Times

The video that helped fuel the revolt showed an angry crowd outside the government building where, a short while before, Bouazizi had set himself on fire.

The New Yorker

And then, at the same bar stool where he had phoned in the crabs just a short while before, Mr. DeChellis did just that.

The New York Times - Food

The robot, named Gammonoid, had a visual-display backgammon board on its chest, which exhibited its moves and those of its opponent, Luigi Villa, of Italy, who by beating all his human challengers a short while before had won the right to play against Gammonoid.

The New Yorker

Our own men, five thousand strong, had nothing to fear, for the deputies of the Germans had left Caesar but a short while before, having asked for a truce that day.

University of Chicago

The secretary of state appeared pretty presidential too, with a very strong statement, a short while before, melding a tribute to the ambassador, condemnation of the attack and an assertion of American greatness.

BBC

He stands for a short while before again lowering his head, inflating his chest and starting another sequence of booms.

Wikipedia

He will rest for a short while before heading to California.

The Guardian - Sport

He left only a short while before her husband returned to find her dead.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a short while before" to clearly establish a temporal sequence where an event closely precedes another. It adds clarity and context to your narrative.

Common error

Avoid using "a short while before" interchangeably with phrases that imply vaguer timeframes. "Earlier" might suggest a less precise time, while "immediately before" emphasizes a much closer temporal proximity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a short while before" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying when an action or event occurred in relation to another. It is used to provide temporal context, indicating proximity in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its validity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

10%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Science

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a short while before" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate that something happened not long before a specific point in time. It functions as an adverbial phrase, providing temporal context in various registers. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, and it appears most frequently in News & Media sources. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the intended timeframe and consider related alternatives like "shortly beforehand" or "just prior to" for nuanced meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just a moment before

Specifies the very brief time interval.

shortly beforehand

Focuses on the brevity of the time interval preceding the event.

a moment ago

Implies an extremely short time interval.

just prior to

Emphasizes the immediacy of the temporal proximity.

a little earlier

Highlights the slightly earlier occurrence of an event.

immediately preceding

Highlights that it happen in the position or role just before the event.

not long ago

Indicates recent past without specifying an exact timeframe.

a bit before that

Casual way of indicating that something occurred slightly earlier.

in the recent past

Formal way to describe something that happened recently.

in advance of

Highlights the action of happening before.

FAQs

How can I use "a short while before" in a sentence?

You can use "a short while before" to indicate that something occurred in the recent past relative to another event. For example, "She had finished her work "a short while before" the meeting started."

What can I say instead of "a short while before"?

You can use alternatives like "shortly beforehand", "just prior to", or "a little earlier" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "a short while before that"?

While not strictly incorrect, adding "that" can sometimes be redundant. The phrase "a short while before" already implies a reference point. However, in some contexts, "a short while before that" can provide additional clarity.

What's the difference between "a short while before" and "a long while before"?

"A short while before" indicates a brief period of time, whereas "a long while before" suggests a more extended duration.