before quickly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "before quickly" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is typically used when describing an action that should happen prior to another action that is done swiftly, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "He finished his homework before quickly leaving the house."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Rove opted for Romney before quickly qualifying his answer, too.

The New Yorker

"Coming on for Paraguay…" he started, before quickly correcting himself.

The Guardian - Sport

"Oh ok". he tweeted, shortly after the service was launched, before quickly deleting the tweet.

Independent

Her dad!" Bank said, before quickly adding that he was kidding.

The New Yorker

"God bless them," he said with a shrug, before quickly veering back on-message.

The New York Times

"I'm so sorry," she remembered him saying before quickly shutting the drawer.

The New York Times

"If we were to lose, would it be difficult?" he asked, before quickly answering.

The New York Times

"He's terrified before he gets out there!" he said, before quickly rephrasing his thought.

The New York Times

In golden light we followed Allu along the shore, before quickly gaining height.

Independent

"It's out of my hands," Burnett said Wednesday afternoon, before quickly correcting himself.

The New York Times - Sports

"I feel good about it," Talen said, before quickly driving off.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Reframe your sentence to emphasize the swiftness of the action directly. For instance, instead of "before quickly leaving", try "before hastily leaving" or "before promptly departing" for clearer, more impactful writing.

Common error

Avoid placing "quickly" directly after "before" as it creates redundancy and awkward phrasing. Instead, use synonyms like "hastily", "promptly", or rephrase the sentence to highlight the speed more effectively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before quickly" functions as an adverbial phrase, indicating the timing of an action in relation to another, though its grammatical correctness is debated. Ludwig AI indicates it is not correct. The goal is to show that an action took place prior to another action, with an implied sense of urgency or swiftness, though awkward.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

13%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "before quickly" is frequently encountered, it's considered grammatically awkward and imprecise. Ludwig AI even states that it is not correct. As an adverbial phrase, it aims to convey temporal sequence and swiftness, yet it often leads to redundancy. For clearer and more impactful writing, it's advisable to opt for alternatives like "immediately before", "shortly before", or to rephrase the sentence entirely. By doing so, you can enhance clarity and avoid potential grammatical pitfalls. The frequency of its occurrence is high across various sources, especially in news and media, but this doesn't negate the fact that is considered ungrammatical.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

immediately before

Emphasizes the temporal proximity of the two events more directly.

just before swiftly

Retains the temporal aspect and adds emphasis on the swiftness.

shortly before

Highlights the brief time interval separating the actions.

preceding swiftly

More formal and emphasizes the order of events with the swiftness.

just prior to promptly

Uses synonyms to create a more formal and precise alternative.

in anticipation of a rapid

Highlights that something is expected, altering the meaning slightly.

ahead of swiftly

Focuses more on being ahead in time before the quick action.

prior to a speedy

Similar to 'before', but replaces 'quickly' with 'speedy' for a more descriptive feel.

in advance of a prompt

Highlights preemption with the anticipation of swift action.

on the verge of swiftly

Emphasizes immediacy and anticipation of the promptness.

FAQs

How can I rephrase the phrase "before quickly" for better clarity?

Consider using alternatives such as "immediately before", "shortly before", or replacing "quickly" with synonyms like "hastily" or "promptly" depending on the context.

Is "before quickly" grammatically correct?

While commonly used, the phrasing "before quickly" can be considered grammatically awkward. It's generally better to use a single adverb that combines both the temporal and speed aspects or to rephrase the sentence for better clarity.

What's the difference between "before quickly" and "immediately before"?

"Before quickly" combines a preposition indicating time with an adverb of speed, which can be redundant. "Immediately before" provides a more direct and concise way to indicate that something happened right before something else.

How to use "before" and an adverb effectively in a sentence without sounding awkward?

Instead of combining "before" with "quickly", try using a stronger adverb or rephrasing the sentence to emphasize the swiftness in the subsequent action. For example, "He finished before hastily leaving" or "He quickly left after finishing" are better options.