before it

USAGE SUMMARY

"before it" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
For example, "I put on my raincoat before it started raining."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The night before, it rained.

The New York Times

The year before, it lost £766m.

BBC

But before, it was difficult.

Unicef

before it.

The New Yorker

Before it, the percolator.

The New York Times

"Before it was hip.

The New York Times

Before, it was like neglect".

The New York Times

Grab it before it evaporates.

The New York Times - Arts

Recycling before it became fashionable.

Independent

"It disciplines before it attacks.

The Economist

What was there before it?

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "before it" to clearly establish a chronological sequence of events, ensuring the context makes the referent of "it" unambiguous.

Common error

Avoid using "before it" when the "it" is not clearly defined or easily understood by the reader. This can lead to confusion and require the reader to infer the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before it" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a temporal relationship. It specifies that an action, event, or state occurs prior to something else, as seen in Ludwig's examples such as, "The night before, it rained."

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "before it" is a prepositional phrase used to indicate temporal precedence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and appears in various contexts, especially in News & Media. While alternatives like "prior to that" exist, "before it" provides a clear way to establish chronological order. Remember to ensure the referent of "it" is unambiguous to avoid confusion. Its frequency is uncommon, but its utility in providing context makes it a valuable phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

before that time

Explicitly indicates a point in time preceding a specified event.

earlier than that

Clearly states that something occurred at a time before a certain point.

prior to that

Replaces "before it" with a more formal and direct expression of temporal precedence.

beforehand

Simplifies "before it" to a single adverb indicating earlier action.

ahead of that

Indicates being earlier than a specific point or event.

in advance of it

Emphasizes preparing or acting ahead of a specific event or time.

in anticipation of that

Focuses on preparing or expecting something before it happens.

previously

Offers a concise way to refer to an earlier time without specifying what "it" is.

sooner than that

Highlights the immediacy or reduced delay before a certain event.

in its early stages

Refers to the initial period or development of something.

FAQs

How can I use "before it" in a sentence?

Use "before it" to indicate that something happens or exists earlier in time than something else. For example: "I finished the report "before it" was due."

What are some alternatives to "before it"?

Some alternatives to "before it" include phrases like "prior to that", "earlier than that", or simply "beforehand" depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "prior to that" instead of "before it"?

"Prior to that" is generally considered more formal than "before it". Choose the phrasing that best fits the tone of your writing.

When should I avoid using "before it"?

Avoid using "before it" when the "it" is ambiguous or unclear. Make sure the referent is easily understood from the surrounding text to prevent confusion.