before previously

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "before previously" is not correct and is generally not usable in written English.
It is redundant because "previously" already implies something that happened before. Example: "Before previously attending the conference, I had never met the speaker."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Guitarist Brian May said in June that Trump had not asked before previously playing the song and that the band would "never give permission".

The Guardian

Part of me believes it can happen which I've never believed before; previously I've aimed for the podium or top five if I'm lucky.

The Guardian - Sport

The man's determination to tweak and tune borders on compulsion: new codes are announced, it seems, even before previously announced new codes have come into effect.

The Economist

One month before previously unknown Ulysses Grant's star began to rise at Fort Donelson in western Tennessee, Garfield's began its ascent in the mountains of eastern Kentucky.

The New York Times

Xerox said income before previously announced charges fell to $220 million, or 30 cents a diluted share, compared with $343 million, or 48 cents a share, in the period a year earlier.

The New York Times

The company's income before previously announced charges fell to $220 million, or 30 cents a diluted share, compared with $343 million, or 48 cents a share, in the period a year earlier.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

The company, based in Minnetonka, Minn., had about 1,400 employees before the previously announced job cuts.

The New York Times

The paper was ordered to submit its defence before a previously agreed deadline of 9 February.

The Guardian

Mr. Birch suggested that they meet before their previously scheduled meeting on Nov. 22.

The New York Times - Sports

By Ian Crouch September 24, 2014 It's been another lousy baseball season for hitters, worse than last year and the year before, which previously set marks for lousiness.

The New Yorker

It's been another lousy baseball season for hitters, worse than last year and the year before, which previously set marks for lousiness.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "before previously" as it is redundant. Choose either "before" or "previously" to clearly indicate that something occurred at an earlier time.

Common error

Be mindful of unnecessarily stacking words that denote time. Using "before previously" doesn't add extra clarity; it adds clutter. Select the single word that most directly communicates the timing you want to convey.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before previously" functions as an adverbial modifier, attempting to specify the timing of an event or action. However, due to its redundant nature, its use is grammatically unsound as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

34%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

3%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "before previously" is considered grammatically incorrect due to its redundancy. Both "before" and "previously" serve to indicate that an event occurred at an earlier time, so using them together adds no value. While Ludwig presents multiple examples of its usage, it is most commonly found in news and media or scientific contexts, but this doesn't legitimize the formulation.

As Ludwig AI confirms, it is best to choose either "before" or "previously" depending on the specific context to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness. Avoid using "before previously" in formal writing or professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previously

Removes "before", relying solely on "previously" to indicate prior occurrence.

before

Removes "previously", using "before" to indicate an earlier time.

prior to

Replaces both words with a more formal preposition indicating precedence.

earlier

Uses a single word to denote something happening at an earlier time.

in the past

Substitutes with a phrase indicating a time in the past.

at an earlier time

Replaces with a phrase that clarifies the temporal relationship.

in former times

Uses a more archaic expression to denote a past period.

heretofore

Replaces with a formal adverb meaning "until now".

in advance

Indicates something done ahead of time, implying a prior action.

ahead of time

Similar to 'in advance', but slightly less formal.

FAQs

Why is "before previously" considered grammatically incorrect?

The phrase "before previously" is redundant because the word "previously" already implies that something happened at an earlier time. Using both words together is unnecessary and considered poor style.

What are some simple alternatives to "before previously"?

You can easily replace "before previously" with either "before" or "previously", depending on the context. Both options are grammatically correct and convey the same meaning.

In what contexts might I encounter the phrase "before previously"?

While grammatically incorrect, "before previously" might appear in informal writing or speech, or in edited texts where the redundancy wasn't caught. It is best to avoid it in formal or professional communication.

Is there a subtle difference in meaning between "before" and "previously" that "before previously" tries to capture?

No, there is no subtle difference that justifies using both words together. Both "before" and "previously" can effectively indicate that an action or event occurred at an earlier time, and using both doesn't add any nuance.