before I submitted

USAGE SUMMARY

'before I submitted' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that happened before you completed a task. For example, "I read through my essay one last time before I submitted it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

It took several days of nagging before I submitted to my father's wishes.

Huffington Post

Even though my daughter blessed the driving essay before I submitted it..

The Washington Post

Just before I submitted this post for publication, the petition had over 40,000 signatures.

The Guardian

(Before I submitted this article to the C.I.A.'s publications review board, I blacked it out myself to save the reviewers the trouble).

The New York Times

"I have no power to resist you, but had I been inside of my house, I would have killed one of you before I submitted to this illegal process," she said.

The New York Times

"I was up until 1 in the morning every day, designing and drawing and sketching and trying to make it work mathematically before I submitted it," Ms. Standing said in a telephone interview, adding that she was attracted to the challenge of the task, not necessarily its connection to a thriller.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Never before, I submit, had a single work of Haydn's been heard so often by so many in so short a time.

University of Chicago

"There'll be two or three more sleepless nights before I submit my list," he said.

The Guardian - Sport

Can I submit an Optional Arts Supplement before I submit my application for admission?

Princeton University

Q: Can I have someone else take a look at my essay before I submit it?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Do I have to take the GMAT, GRE or Executive Assessment (EA) before I submit my application?

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always proofread your work carefully "before I submitted" it to catch any errors. This ensures professionalism and clarity.

Common error

Ensure the verb tense in the main clause matches the tense implied by "before I submitted". For example, use "I checked it" instead of "I will check it" if the submission has already occurred.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before I submitted" functions as an adverbial clause of time, indicating when another action occurred. Ludwig AI examples show it introducing actions done in preparation or anticipation of a submission, providing temporal context.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "before I submitted" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate actions taken prior to a submission. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is suitable for various contexts, including news, academia, and science. When using the phrase, pay attention to tense consistency and consider more formal alternatives like "prior to my submission" for professional writing. By understanding its function and purpose, you can effectively use "before I submitted" to create clear and coherent sentences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prior to my submission

Formal alternative using a noun phrase instead of a clause.

just before I sent

Replaces "submitted" with "sent", implying a similar action.

ahead of submitting

Uses a prepositional phrase to indicate time before submission.

in advance of submitting

Emphasizes the proactive nature of acting before submission.

previous to my submitting

A more formal and somewhat archaic alternative.

prior to when I submitted

Rephrases using 'when' to emphasize timing.

before the submission

Focuses on the event of submission rather than the act of submitting.

before handing it in

More informal, using "handing it in" instead of "submitting".

leading up to my submission

Highlights the period before submission.

on the eve of submitting

Suggests action taken right before the point of submitting.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "before I submitted" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases such as "prior to my submission" or "in advance of submitting".

Is there a difference between "before I submitted" and "before submitting"?

"Before I submitted" specifies that you were the one submitting, while "before submitting" is more general and could refer to anyone submitting something. The choice depends on whether you need to emphasize your role.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when using the phrase "before I submitted"?

A common mistake is using the wrong verb tense in the other part of the sentence. Make sure the tenses are logically consistent. For example, use past perfect "Before I submitted, I had checked it thoroughly."

What's a less formal alternative to "before I submitted"?

Less formal alternatives include phrases like "before I sent it in" or "before handing it in".