before picking up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "before picking up" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate an action that should occur prior to the act of picking something up, often in a sequence of events. Example: "Make sure to wash your hands before picking up the food."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Today's cartoonists read the news before picking up their brushes.

The Guardian - Money

Filming here would end at 9pm before picking up again in Brighton at dawn.

Independent

The artist took 18 months to research the subject before picking up a brush.

Independent

Growth is likely to slow to 3% this year before picking up again in 2006.

The Economist

Durant had scored 8 points in the third quarter before picking up his fourth foul.

The New York Times - Sports

It works out cheaper to wait until you reach Mull before picking up a rental car.

Independent

Some have given up on landlines entirely, and many others screen before picking up.

The Guardian - Opinion

Matt Whisenant allowed one run in the 10th before picking up his first save.

The New York Times - Sports

The yield on 10-year bunds dipped to -0.001%, before picking up to 0.3%.

The Guardian - Business

Turner (1775-1851) too started as a topographer before picking up his Claudean inheritance.

The Guardian - Arts

We'll talk about that," he says, before picking up where he left off.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When providing instructions, use "before picking up" to clearly sequence actions. For example, "Read the instructions carefully before picking up the equipment."

Common error

Avoid using "before picking up" when the action of picking up influences the prior action. Ensure the sequence is logical. For example, instead of "Adjust the settings before picking up the camera to take a picture", ensure adjusting the settings makes sense without camera being picked up.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before picking up" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a temporal relationship between two actions. It specifies that one action should occur prior to the act of physically grasping or lifting something. Ludwig AI validates this through numerous examples where the phrase sets a clear sequence of events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "before picking up" is a common and grammatically sound way to indicate that an action should occur prior to physically grasping something. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across a diverse array of sources, from News & Media to Wiki. While it generally maintains a neutral register, alternatives like "prior to collecting" offer a more formal tone. To ensure clarity, remember to use "before picking up" when sequencing actions and be mindful of the temporal relationship between them. Avoid using "before picking up" when the action of picking up influences the prior action. Consider alternatives such as "prior to collecting", "ahead of grabbing", or "previous to acquiring" to add nuance and stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prior to collecting

Emphasizes a more formal tone by substituting "picking up" with "collecting" and using "prior to" instead of "before".

before taking hold of

Emphasizes the action of grasping or seizing something, instead of a simple picking action.

ahead of grabbing

Uses "grabbing" as a more informal alternative to "picking up", and "ahead of" instead of "before".

previous to acquiring

Replaces "picking up" with the more formal "acquiring" and uses "previous to" for a more sophisticated tone.

sooner than clutching

Implies a sense of urgency or swiftness in taking hold of something, using "clutching" for intensity.

in advance of retrieving

Offers a heightened level of formality, swapping "picking up" for "retrieving" and "before" with "in advance of".

until acquiring

Swaps "before" with "until", shifting the focus to the duration leading to acquisition.

preceding the act of lifting

Descriptive and somewhat verbose, focuses on the action of lifting as an alternative to "picking up".

in anticipation of seizing

Adds a sense of expectation or preparation before taking hold, using "seizing" to suggest a forceful action.

on the verge of grabbing

Indicates immediacy or the point right before picking something up, implying the action is about to occur.

FAQs

How can I use "before picking up" in a sentence?

Use "before picking up" to indicate an action that should be completed prior to lifting or grasping an object. For instance, "Sanitize your hands "before picking up" food to prevent contamination."

What can I say instead of "before picking up"?

Alternatives include "prior to collecting", "ahead of grabbing", or "previous to acquiring", depending on the formality and context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "prior to picking up" instead of "before picking up"?

Yes, "prior to picking up" is grammatically correct. It's a more formal alternative to "before picking up" and can be used in professional or academic writing.

What's the difference between "before picking up" and "after picking up"?

"Before picking up" indicates an action that happens preceding the act of picking something up, while "after picking up" indicates an action that occurs following the act of picking something up. For example, "Wash your hands before picking up the baby" versus "Wash your hands after picking up the baby if the baby is dirty".