as happened before

USAGE SUMMARY

"as happened before" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is a phrase that is typically used to indicate that something has occurred in the past and is likely to occur again. Example: The team lost their first game, as happened before, but they were able to bounce back and win the rest of the season.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Bank bosses might start advertising their capital ratios, as happened before deposit insurance was introduced.

The Economist

It is not in society's interests to have confessions from young suspects thrown out because they were coerced, as happened before Miranda.

The New York Times

As Science is Vital showed, rallies and petitions that convey the strength of scientific opinion can make a difference, especially when they are backed by a strong argument and effective behind-the-scenes lobbying, as happened before the spending review.

The Guardian

Everyone in the neighborhood is watching, wondering whether the sick man has really gotten healthy or just an injection of Chinese steroids and will soon stumble again -- as happened before, in the 1990's.

The New York Times

To raise funds, too, the government plans a slew of privatisation, selling off government-owned chunks of equity in Hindustan Copper, in Oil India, and other firms.What now has to be seen is whether the political backlash overwhelms the government and forces a reversal, as happened before.

The Economist

"As happened before there would clearly be an anti-march protest from the anti-fascist league and that is not the sort of thing we want to see in a nice Lincolnshire market town like Boston".

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

They identified 452 eminent academic life scientists whose deaths were premature defined as happening before the scientist entered pre-retirement or took on a predominantly administrative role and studied how these demises affected the "vitality (measured by publication rates and funding flows) of the [scientists'] subfields".

Science Magazine

"In one sense it's not totally surprising as it's happened before," he said.

Independent

"What's happened before, as far as I'm concerned, is water under the bridge and I hope both sides can play the game in the right spirit.

BBC

That hasn't happened before, as far as we know.

Huffington Post

Virgin media spokesperson Alice Lam told The Huffington Post that this sort of erasure hasn't happened before, as far as they know.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as happened before" to draw parallels between current and past situations, providing context and emphasizing recurring patterns.

Common error

Avoid using "as happened before" in overly simple sentences where a more direct phrasing would suffice. For example, instead of "The rain flooded the streets, as happened before," consider "The streets flooded again due to the rain."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as happened before" functions as an adverbial clause or phrase, introducing context by referring to prior events. It adds a temporal dimension and emphasizes recurrence. Ludwig AI states it is correct and can be used in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as happened before" is a grammatically correct and useful phrase to indicate that a current situation is a repeat of a past one. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for written English and is commonly found in news and media contexts. While not extremely frequent, the phrase provides a concise way to add context and emphasize recurring patterns. Remember to use it judiciously, avoiding overuse in simple sentences where more direct phrasing would be clearer. The related phrases and writing guidance offered here can help you use this phrase effectively and avoid common errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as occurred previously

Replaces "happened before" with a more formal synonym, "occurred previously".

as was the case earlier

Emphasizes that a similar situation existed at an earlier time.

like it did in the past

Uses simpler vocabulary to convey the idea of past recurrence.

similar events transpired earlier

Employs more formal language, replacing "happened" with "transpired".

in the same way as it played out previously

Adds detail by referencing the manner in which events unfolded.

mirroring what took place before

Uses a metaphorical expression to indicate a repetition of events.

reminiscent of past incidents

Highlights the similarities to previous events.

a repeat of what we've already seen

Offers a casual way to express recurrence, focusing on familiarity.

echoing former circumstances

Suggests a parallel between current events and past circumstances.

just like history has shown

Implies recurrence based on historical precedent.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "as happened before" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases such as "as occurred previously" or "as was the case earlier".

Is "as happened before" interchangeable with "like before"?

While both phrases indicate a recurrence, "as happened before" is generally more suitable for formal writing, whereas "like before" is more casual. Consider the context and audience when choosing between them.

What's the best way to use "as happened before" in a sentence?

Use "as happened before" to introduce a clause that provides context by referring to a past event or situation. For example, "The market crashed, "as happened before" during the recession of 2008."

What alternatives exist to "as happened before" that don't use the word "happened"?

Alternatives include "mirroring what took place before", "echoing former circumstances", or "reminiscent of past incidents", offering varied stylistic choices.