before now today

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "before now today" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It seems to attempt to express a time frame but is confusing and redundant. Example: "I have never felt this way before now today, and it's overwhelming."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

If you thought that eBay was on shaky ground with Icahn before now, today's letter, also reprinted in this SEC filing, feels like eBay's most confident rebuttal yet.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

I've been too busy working on a week of events commemorating the tercentenary of John Locke's death here in the village of his birth to have noticed Martin Kettle's article before now (Comment, October 26; Letters, October 28).

The Guardian - Books

Before now, Wolf 1061's properties were only approximated through stellar modelling, a process in which a star's type is used to extrapolate additional data.

Vice

So, starting now, this year, before the holiday season begins, I'm beginning a new tradition.

HuffPost

The situation was the reverse among males, more males reported living riskier lifestyles now (2008) than before (2003) and this cut across all age groups.

Globalization and Health

There have only been two before now – Turin in 2008 and Seoul in 2010 – but it feels like an honorific that was made for this city.

The Guardian - Travel

In their two decades in Arizona, they made the postseason only once before now, in the 1998 season.

The New York Times - Sports

It has broken men before now, as in 2002 when the German Olympic rower Seb Meyer collapsed before the finish line, spent.

The Guardian - Sport

Before now, Square, founded in 2009, only had services live in the U.S., Canada (October 2012) and Japan (May 2013).

TechCrunch

"I said, 'How come I've never had allergies before, and now, suddenly, the last four years I've developed allergies?

The New Yorker

"I would have given it 50-50 butore, but now I think we can win this one," Mr. Heller said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "before now today" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and more grammatically accepted alternatives like "until today" or "prior to today".

Common error

Be mindful of using multiple time references that overlap in meaning. The phrase "before now today" is redundant because "before" and "now" both indicate a time preceding the present, making "today" unnecessary and confusing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before now today" functions as an attempted temporal adverbial phrase, aiming to specify a time frame leading up to the present. However, due to its redundant nature, it fails to provide clear grammatical function. Ludwig AI highlights its incorrectness, as it combines multiple references to the present in a confusing way.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "before now today" is flagged by Ludwig AI as grammatically incorrect due to its redundancy. While the intent might be to indicate a period leading up to the present, combining "before", "now", and "today" creates a confusing expression. Accurate alternatives like ""until today"" or ""prior to today"" offer clarity and are recommended for effective communication. Its usage is rare and not advisable in formal writing. Consider it a linguistic construction to avoid, favoring more conventional and precise phrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

until today

Emphasizes the period leading up to the current day.

prior to today

More formal, indicating a time preceding the current day.

previously today

Refers to an earlier point in the current day.

earlier today

Similar to "previously today", but less formal.

up to the present

Highlights the continuous period leading to the current moment.

in the past

General reference to any time before the present.

before this

Simple and direct reference to a time preceding the current one.

until this moment

Emphasizes the specific point in time.

heretofore

Formal and somewhat archaic, meaning "up to this time".

before the present day

A more descriptive and formal way of saying "before now".

FAQs

What does "before now today" mean?

The phrase "before now today" is not standard English and is considered grammatically incorrect. It attempts to combine multiple references to the present time, resulting in a confusing and redundant expression. Consider using phrases like "until today" or "prior to today" instead.

How can I use "before now today" in a sentence correctly?

Due to its grammatical issues, it's advisable to avoid using "before now today" in any sentence. Instead, rephrase your sentence using clearer alternatives such as "up to this point" or "previously" to convey the intended meaning more effectively.

Which is correct, "before now today" or "until today"?

"Until today" is correct, while "before now today" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. "Until today" clearly indicates a time period leading up to the present day, whereas "before now today" is redundant and confusing. Prefer "until today" for clarity.

What are some formal alternatives to "before now today"?

For formal contexts, avoid using "before now today". Instead, opt for more precise and grammatically sound alternatives like "prior to this date" or "heretofore" to maintain a professional and clear tone in your writing.