before lastly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "before lastly" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where you want to indicate a point that comes before the final point, but it is better to use clearer alternatives. Example: "Before lastly addressing the main issue, I would like to summarize the previous points."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

We then labelled and tagged the data by the concepts and themes identified before lastly sorting the data by themes.

BMC Family Practice

You will start to notice things that you wouldn't have done before Lastly,learn to enjoy your life.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Then officials will focus on elementary schools built between 1950 and 1966, followed by secondary schools built between 1950 and 1966, elementary schools built between 1967 and 1979, secondary schools built between 1967 and 1979, elementary schools constructed before 1950 and, lastly, secondary schools constructed before 1950.

The New York Times - Science

Lastly, before you go into implementation, one last piece of advice from me: Modularize, modularize, modularize!

University of California, Berkeley

Lastly, before the while loop, all of the variables are initialized, including indices, free lists, and the sinewave table used in the FFT code.

Cornell University

Lastly, before launching the study, we ran a one-week pilot, with individuals of various backgrounds, and made improvements to the study as necessary.

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

"Lastly: Before renting it I read two news media that told me I had to use it only on the sidewalks and they tell us that we should only use it on the road during the onboarding — and that wearing an helmet is mandatory without providing it).

TechCrunch

Lastly, before you step foot on any stage remember that you are the crown, esteemed and highly valuable.

Huffington Post

And lastly, before I cram these all into a final paragraph, I lay the blame for "-nation" at the feet of New England fans.

Huffington Post

Lastly before you consider price think about how the product improves the quality of either your life or (more importantly) your ability to produce more money as this represents real value.

Huffington Post

Jan Filochowski spent 20 years as an NHS chief executive of six large hospital trusts, lastly Great Ormond Street, before retiring from the health service at the end of 2013 Join our network to read more pieces like this.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "before lastly" in formal writing. Opt for clearer alternatives like "before the final step" or "prior to the last action" for better readability and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Don't combine "before" and "lastly" as they create an ambiguous sense of time. If you want to indicate an action preceding the final one, specify the order more clearly using phrases such as "immediately before the end".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before lastly" functions as an adverbial modifier, attempting to specify the timing of an action in relation to the final action in a sequence. However, its structure is unconventional and creates ambiguity, as highlighted by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "before lastly" is an unusual and grammatically questionable construction that attempts to denote an action preceding the final one in a sequence. As indicated by Ludwig, its usage is infrequent and can lead to ambiguity. While it appears across different sources, including news and media, its uncommon structure makes it less desirable for both formal and informal writing. For enhanced clarity, it's recommended to use alternatives like "prior to the final step" or "immediately before the end". By opting for more precise language, writers can effectively communicate the sequence of events without risking confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

immediately before the end

Specifies that the action or event occurs right before the conclusion.

just before the last one

Uses simpler wording to convey the idea of an action happening right before the final one.

prior to the last step

Replaces "lastly" with a more formal and descriptive phrase. It emphasizes the sequential order of actions.

before the final action

Focuses on the completion of a series of actions, specifying the action immediately preceding the end.

leading up to the end

Suggests a process or series of events concluding with a specific final point.

in anticipation of the last item

Highlights the expectation or preparation for the concluding element.

preceding the ultimate event

Uses more formal language to indicate the event that happens directly before the final one.

ahead of the concluding part

Emphasizes being earlier in time or position relative to the final part.

before the final consideration

Highlights the penultimate step of a series of actions.

prior to the concluding event

A more formal replacement, indicating the event that happens directly before the conclusion.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "before lastly"?

You can use alternatives such as "prior to the last step", "immediately before the end", or "before the final action" depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to use "before lastly"?

No, the phrase "before lastly" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's best to use clearer and more conventional alternatives.

How can I improve the clarity of my writing when indicating a sequence of events?

Use explicit sequencing words such as "first", "second", "then", "next", "finally" or use phrases like "prior to the final step" or "in the penultimate stage" to avoid ambiguity.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "before lastly"?

While the phrase might be understood, it's generally better to avoid it in both formal and informal writing. Opt for more precise language to clearly convey the sequence of events.