before he says

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "before he says" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a point in time prior to someone making a statement or expressing an opinion. Example: "She wanted to clarify her thoughts before he says anything that might misinterpret her intentions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

"It happened before," he says.

The Guardian

"I never saw snow before," he says.

MIT Technology Review

"Haven't heard that one before," he says.

The Washington Post

"We've done this before," he says.

The New York Times - Arts

"I had been curious [about acting] before," he says.

Independent

"I had never felt this before," he says repeatedly.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

"We've been here before," he said.

The New Yorker

"I've painted her before," he said.

The New Yorker

"It has happened before," he said.

The New York Times - Books

"She loved me before," he said, smiling.

The New York Times

"I've been here before," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "before he says" to clearly indicate a chronological sequence, ensuring the reader understands the order of events or actions. This phrase is most effective when highlighting a contrast or comparison between what happened before and what is said afterwards.

Common error

Avoid using "before he says" when the sequence is not strictly temporal or when the emphasis is not on the timing. Ensure that the action or state genuinely precedes the act of speaking. Otherwise, consider using alternatives that focus on cause or condition rather than time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before he says" functions as a temporal marker, indicating that an action or event occurred prior to someone speaking. Ludwig shows it's frequently used in contexts where establishing the sequence of events is important.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "before he says" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate a temporal sequence where an event precedes someone's speech. As Ludwig highlights, it is frequently used in news, academic, and business contexts. While it is generally neutral, it is important to ensure that the emphasis is genuinely on the timing of events. Consider alternatives such as "prior to his statement" for more formal contexts or when emphasizing the content of the speech itself. Using the phrase appropriately helps ensure clarity and coherence in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

before he speaks

A simple substitution of "says" for "speaks".

before he mentions

Replaces 'says' with 'mentions', focusing on the act of bringing something up.

prior to his statement

Replaces the clause with a more formal prepositional phrase.

before his declaration

Substitutes 'says' with 'declaration', emphasizing a formal announcement.

ahead of his words

Uses a more figurative expression to indicate precedence.

previous to his utterance

Replaces 'before' with 'previous to' and 'says' with 'utterance' for a more formal tone.

in advance of his speech

Indicates anticipation or planning before speaking.

leading up to his comment

Focuses on the events or context preceding a specific comment.

preceding his remark

Emphasizes that something comes directly before a spoken remark.

prior to him speaking

Uses a gerund phrase to describe the act of speaking.

FAQs

How can I use "before he says" in a sentence?

Use "before he says" to show that an action, event, or state occurred in time before someone speaks. For example, "She thought carefully before he says anything that might be misinterpreted".

What are some alternatives to "before he says"?

Consider alternatives like "prior to his statement", or "before he speaks", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "before he says" formal or informal?

"Before he says" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, for more formal writing, phrases like "prior to his utterance" may be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "before he says" and "after he says"?

"Before he says" indicates that something happens preceding the act of speaking, whereas "after he says" indicates that something happens following the act of speaking. They represent opposite temporal sequences.