before everybody else

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "before everybody else" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone or something is prioritized or occurs prior to others in a particular context. Example: "I always try to finish my work before everybody else to ensure I have time for revisions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

They had all the great disco records before everybody else".

The New York Times

Hit the effervescent Champagne Glade before everybody else does.

The New York Times - Travel

"We have to get there before everybody else".

The Guardian - Sport

Most people have seen these passengers boarding planes before everybody else.

The Economist

America is ahead of the curve on dietary matters: it got fat before everybody else did.

The Economist

The only thing is getting my hands on them before everybody else does".

The New York Times - Style

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

Before, like everybody else who doesn't have a kid, he would have been a little bit selfish, but once you have a kid, that completely changes.

BBC

But now we're glad.... (Before that), everybody else has their record out and we're just sitting around, you know what I'm saying?

Huffington Post

While his mates did indeed set fire to his bathroom, Balotelli did not fill up his own car before paying for everybody else's petrol, he did not give £1000 to a homeless person after a bumper win at a casino, and, most crushing of all, he did not dress up as Father Christmas and drive round Manchester handing out presents.

BBC

"The initial contact is way before what probably everybody else thinks.

Huffington Post

But think how it was before, when we did it to everybody else.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "before everybody else" to clearly indicate that someone or something is prioritized or occurs prior to others in a specific context. This ensures clarity and emphasizes the sequence of events.

Common error

Avoid using "before everybody else" in contexts where the meaning could be misinterpreted as physical obstruction rather than temporal or preferential order. Ensure the context makes it clear that you're referring to sequence or priority.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before everybody else" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, indicating the timing or priority of an action. As evidenced by Ludwig, the phrase denotes that something happens sooner or takes precedence over others.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Wiki

7%

Huffington Post

4%

Less common in

Independent

2%

The New Yorker

1%

Forbes

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "before everybody else" is a commonly used adverbial phrase indicating precedence or priority. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and appears frequently in news and media sources. While generally neutral, it leans toward informal and conveys a sense of advantage in timing or access. When writing, it's important to ensure the context clarifies that the intended meaning is temporal or preferential, avoiding potential ambiguity. For more formal contexts, alternatives like "prior to all others" may be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ahead of everyone else

Focuses on being in a leading position compared to others.

prior to everyone else

Emphasizes the temporal aspect of occurring before others.

before all others

Highlights a sense of exclusivity and priority.

sooner than everyone else

Stresses the aspect of timing and earliness.

in advance of everyone else

Suggests preparation and acting earlier.

earlier than everyone else

Directly indicates a temporal advantage.

before the rest

Emphasizes being first within a group.

in preference to everyone else

Indicates a selection or prioritization over others.

with priority over everyone else

Highlights a formal or structured system of precedence.

first among equals

Suggests leadership or a slight advantage within a peer group.

FAQs

What does "before everybody else" mean?

The phrase "before everybody else" means earlier than everyone else or having priority over others. It implies being ahead of others in time, sequence, or privilege.

How can I use "before everybody else" in a sentence?

You can use "before everybody else" to show precedence. For example, "I want to know about the news "before everybody else"" indicates a desire to be informed first.

What can I say instead of "before everybody else"?

You can use alternatives like "ahead of everyone else", "prior to everyone else", or "sooner than everyone else" depending on the context.

Is it formal to say "before everybody else"?

The phrase "before everybody else" is generally considered informal but acceptable in most contexts. In formal settings, you might prefer "prior to all others" or "in advance of others".