as existed before

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as existed before" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a state or condition that was present in the past and is being compared to the current situation. Example: "The system should be restored to its original settings, as existed before the recent updates."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Diane Dreyfus, an urban planner, said the city would end up with only 60percentt as much open space as existed before.

The New York Times

Reconstruction of the choir area began in 1979 using the same materials as existed before the fire.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

State-building is about setting up institutions and governance that may not have existed before, as in Afghanistan, or that have been in the hands of ruthless dictators, as in Iraq.

The New York Times

Restoration may be defined as the manipulation of organisms and ecological processes to create self-organizing, sustainable, native ecosystems as integral parts of the landscape, as much as possible as they existed before disruptive human disturbances.

Encyclopedia of Biodiversity

In other words, the Great Recession of 2007 was foreshadowed by almost the exact same outrageous income imbalance as existed just before the Great Depression, the evidence of which is that the top one-tenth of 1% of earners now earn as much as the bottom 120 million earners combined.

Huffington Post

And no one "discovers" an Aretha Franklin, just as surely as America existed before Columbus.

Forbes

It's filled with information on literally anything from where to eat to what the best clubs are—as long as it existed before 1991.

Vice

"In the 1990's we had the same high levels of dropout rates and low achievement levels as existed 20 years before".

The New York Times

Habermas claims that these enhancements would thus impinge on the child's autonomy, because '… the person can only see himself as the author of ascribable actions and the source, if he assumes self-continuity …' 26 between himself as he exists in the world as a socialised being, and himself as he existed before entering the social world.

Bioethics

And one way of understanding this is as a call for a return to the novel as it existed before James came along.

The New Yorker

The American "Greatness" he aspires to, as many said during the campaign, is the world as it existed before 1970.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing historical contexts or reconstructions, use "as existed before" to clearly indicate a return to a prior state or condition. For example, when discussing restoration efforts, specify what is being restored by referencing its state "as existed before" a disruptive event.

Common error

Avoid using "as existed before" when simply referring to a general past event without a specific need to compare it to a present state. Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive or unnecessarily complex. Consider more concise alternatives like "previously" or "formerly" when the comparison is implicit.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as existed before" functions as an adverbial phrase, typically modifying a noun or clause. It specifies a condition or state that existed at a prior time. According to Ludwig, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as existed before" is used to describe a state or condition in the past, typically in comparison with a present or future state. Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically correct and usable in written English. While the phrase is considered rare, with News & Media and Wiki sources as the most prominent domains, its usage is neutral and clear. Consider this phrase in discussions about history, restoration, or when contrasting past conditions with present realities. Be mindful to not overuse the phrase when shorter alternatives can be employed without altering the meaning of the sentence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as it previously was

Replaces 'existed before' with a more common expression for a past state.

as it once was

Emphasizes the past nature of the condition with a touch of nostalgia.

in its prior state

Uses a more formal tone to indicate the original condition.

in its original form

Focuses on the structure or configuration that has changed.

as it stood then

Focuses on the condition or position at a particular time in the past.

formerly

A single-word adverb replacing the entire phrase, implying a past condition.

previously

A concise adverb indicating a state before the present.

prior to this

Highlights the temporal sequence, emphasizing what came before the current situation.

in the past

Simple and direct reference to a prior time.

beforehand

Indicates something that happened or existed earlier.

FAQs

How can I use "as existed before" in a sentence?

Use "as existed before" to describe a state or condition from the past, especially when comparing it to a current situation or a future desired state. For example: "The goal is to restore the ecosystem "as existed before" the industrial development."

What are some alternatives to "as existed before"?

Alternatives include "previously", "formerly", "as it once was", or "in its prior state". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is "as existed before" grammatically correct?

Yes, "as existed before" is grammatically correct. It functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a noun, indicating a past state or condition. However, ensure it fits the context and isn't unnecessarily verbose.

What's the difference between "as existed before" and "as it is now"?

"As existed before" refers to a past state, while "as it is now" refers to the present state. They are used to contrast or compare conditions across time, highlighting changes or desired restorations. For example: "We are comparing the city "as existed before" the earthquake with "as it is now"."