before his arrival

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "before his arrival" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a time frame or condition that occurs prior to someone's arrival. Example: "We need to finalize the arrangements before his arrival to ensure everything is in place."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Glasgow had probably been declining as a university before his arrival, but students now began to arrive in large numbers.

Wikipedia

Enrollment rates at the University of Glasgow had been declining before his arrival, but students now began to arrive in large numbers.

Wikipedia

Before his arrival, the players were without experienced professional direction.

The New York Times - Sports

The Sooners went 16-15 the season before his arrival.

The New York Times - Sports

Before his arrival, only 7% of first-time, full-time students graduated.

The Economist

Mr. Biden did say that he had a "long conversation" with Mr. Christie before his arrival.

The New York Times

That victory was probably the result of momentum already built up before his arrival.

The New York Times - Sports

Willard took over an Iona program that was 2-28 in the season before his arrival.

The New York Times

Before his arrival in government Mr Osborne was regarded as the Conservatives' weakest link.

Independent

He said he did not know if bodies had been moved before his arrival.

The New York Times

At a fashion fair in December organisers removed naked mannequins before his arrival.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "before his arrival", ensure the context clearly establishes whose arrival is being referenced to avoid ambiguity. For instance, specify the person's name or title.

Common error

Avoid placing the phrase "before his arrival" in a way that creates a dangling modifier. Ensure the subject of the sentence is clearly connected to the action or state described in the main clause. For example, instead of "Before his arrival, the room was cleaned", write "The room was cleaned before his arrival".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before his arrival" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun to indicate a temporal relationship. Ludwig's examples illustrate its use in setting a time frame preceding an event. This phrase provides context by specifying what occurred or was true in the period leading up to someone's arrival.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Wiki

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "before his arrival" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase that specifies a time preceding someone's arrival. Ludwig's analysis confirms its versatility across various contexts, predominantly in news and media, encyclopedias, and wikis. While alternatives like "prior to his coming" or "ahead of his arrival" exist, clarity is key when using this phrase, ensuring the 'his' refers to a well-defined individual. As affirmed by Ludwig, this phrase's broad applicability makes it a reliable choice for diverse writing needs.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ahead of his arrival

Uses "ahead of" as a direct substitute for "before", maintaining a similar meaning.

in advance of his arrival

Similar to 'ahead of', but emphasizes planning or preparation.

prior to his coming

Replaces "arrival" with "coming", offering a slightly more formal tone.

preceding his arrival

Offers a more formal and structured alternative.

previous to his arrival

Employs a more formal and somewhat archaic phrasing.

leading up to his arrival

Emphasizes the events that build up to the moment of arrival.

the period before he arrived

Rephrases the expression using a clause, adding emphasis to the time period.

in the time leading up to his arrival

Expands the phrase to clarify a process or series of events.

in anticipation of his arrival

Highlights the expectation or preparation for the arrival.

until he arrived

This specifies the endpoint of the time period rather than what happened prior.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to saying "before his arrival"?

You can use alternatives like "prior to his coming", "leading up to his arrival", or "ahead of his arrival" depending on the context.

How do I ensure clarity when using the phrase "before his arrival"?

To avoid confusion, clearly state whose arrival you're referring to. For example, use "before the president's arrival" or "before John's arrival" instead of just "before his arrival".

Is "prior to his arrival" more formal than "before his arrival"?

Yes, "prior to his arrival" is generally considered more formal than "before his arrival". Both are grammatically correct, but "prior to" is often used in more formal or academic writing.

Can I use "before he arrived" instead of "before his arrival"?

Yes, "before he arrived" is a grammatically correct alternative. It uses a clause structure, while "before his arrival" uses a prepositional phrase. The choice depends on the desired sentence structure and emphasis.