before my arrival

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "before my arrival" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing when something happened relative to your own arrival. For example: "Several important decisions were made before my arrival."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

BEFORE my arrival in the White House in April, I was not well known to the American people.

The New York Times

My husband, Karl, a doctor, bought it nine years before my arrival.

The New York Times

Indeed, I am told that before my arrival there were six weeks of glorious summer sun.

Independent

As it had rained before my arrival, the place was budding out of control.

The Guardian - Travel

He has fussed over me before my arrival, although he is the sick one.

The New York Times

I decided to look into how the job had been handled before my arrival.

The New Yorker

Five minutes before my arrival, he says, he plucked a cobra out of reception.

The Guardian - Travel

Before my arrival I had signed up for an architectural tour.

The New York Times - Travel

Her name was Coretta, and before my arrival she had been the only black person in our grade.

The New Yorker

Braun had prepped Bieber before my arrival and had asked him to think of three qualities that his manager possessed.

The New Yorker

Hot tears rolling down my face, I spent the class imagining the conversation the others were enjoying before my arrival.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "before my arrival" to clearly establish a sequence of events, indicating that something occurred prior to your presence in a specific location or situation.

Common error

Avoid using "before my arrival" interchangeably with phrases that imply purpose or anticipation. For example, "in anticipation of my arrival" suggests preparation, which is different from simply stating a prior event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before my arrival" functions as a prepositional phrase, specifically an adverbial phrase of time. It modifies a verb or clause by indicating when something occurred in relation to the speaker's arrival. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "before my arrival" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to establish a clear temporal sequence, indicating that something occurred prior to the speaker's arrival. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used, primarily in news and academic contexts. When writing, be sure to use it to clearly define when actions or events took place relative to your presence. While alternatives like "prior to my coming" or "before I arrived" exist, "before my arrival" provides a specific emphasis on the moment of arrival itself. Avoid confusing it with phrases that imply purpose or anticipation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

before I arrived

Simplifies the phrase to a direct past tense clause.

previous to my arrival

Similar in meaning, but slightly more formal.

prior to my coming

Replaces "arrival" with a more active verb form, slightly altering the tone.

preceding my arrival

More formal, using a more technical or literary tone.

before I got there

More informal and direct, focusing on the act of reaching a destination.

in advance of my arrival

Indicates preparation or planning before the arrival.

ahead of my arrival

Highlights that something was completed or positioned before the arrival.

leading up to my arrival

Emphasizes the period immediately preceding the arrival.

by the time I arrived

Emphasizes a point in time at which something was already complete.

in anticipation of my arrival

Focuses on actions taken in preparation for the arrival.

FAQs

How can I use "before my arrival" in a sentence?

Use "before my arrival" to indicate that something happened at a time preceding your appearance or coming to a place. For example, "The meeting had already started before my arrival".

What can I say instead of "before my arrival"?

You can use alternatives like "prior to my coming", "before I got there", or "preceding my arrival" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "before my arrival" or "before I arrived"?

Both "before my arrival" and "before I arrived" are correct, but "before my arrival" is often used when you want to emphasize the event of your arrival itself, while "before I arrived" focuses on your action of arriving.

What's the difference between "before my arrival" and "in anticipation of my arrival"?

"Before my arrival" simply indicates a sequence of events, while "in anticipation of my arrival" suggests that actions were taken or preparations were made because someone knew you were coming.