before the advent of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "before the advent of" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used to refer to events or developments that happened before some other event or development. For example: "Before the advent of the internet, communication was much slower and more difficult."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Travel

Health

Arts

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

BEFORE the advent of affordable helicopter rides, a backcountry ski trip was primitive.

The New York Times - Travel

Didn't whistleblowing exist before the advent of the internet?

The Guardian - Opinion

(Restivo was incarcerated before the advent of the cell phone).

The New Yorker

This was before the advent of dog psychiatrists.

The New Yorker

This was 1962, well before the advent of feminism.

The Guardian

I compiled that in the 1970s, long before the advent of the personal computer.

The Guardian

Before the advent of the chairlift, that was a full day's skiing.

The Guardian - Travel

Before the advent of beta blockers, artists found other, often more eccentric means of calming themselves.

The New York Times - Arts

Not everyone contracted polio or smallpox before the advent of mandatory vaccines to protect every child.

The New York Times

Long before the advent of chainsaws, she notes, he was warning about the dangers of deforestation.

The New Yorker

Limitations to that approach were becoming obvious even before the advent of optogenetics and CLARITY.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "before the advent of", ensure that the noun following "of" is a significant development or innovation. This phrase is most effective when highlighting the contrast between past conditions and present advancements.

Common error

Avoid using "before the advent of" in casual conversations or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "before" or "prior to" are often more appropriate in less formal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before the advent of" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a temporal clause. It sets a time frame preceding a significant event or innovation. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "before the advent of" is a grammatically sound and common phrase used to denote a period preceding a significant development. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and frequent usage across various domains. It is particularly prevalent in news, science, and formal writing. While versatile, it's best suited for highlighting the impact of innovations and contrasting past and present conditions. When writing, keep in mind that simpler alternatives exist for informal contexts, and ensure the noun following "of" represents a notable advancement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prior to the emergence of

Replaces "advent" with "emergence", emphasizing the coming into existence of something.

before the arrival of

Substitutes "advent" with "arrival", focusing on the coming or reaching of something.

preceding the rise of

Uses "rise" instead of "advent", highlighting the ascent or increase in importance of something.

antedating the existence of

Employs "antedating the existence", indicating something existed before another thing came into being.

before the dawn of

Replaces "advent" with "dawn", creating a more metaphorical and evocative image of the beginning of something.

in the era before

Changes the structure to focus on a time period preceding a particular development.

previous to the introduction of

Highlights that something happened before the introduction of a particular thing.

before the inception of

Replaces "advent" with "inception", focusing on the beginning or commencement of something.

prior to the development of

Emphasizes that something came before the development of something else.

in advance of

A more concise way to say something happened before a specific event or period.

FAQs

How can I use "before the advent of" in a sentence?

Use "before the advent of" to describe a time before a significant innovation or development. For example: "Before the advent of the internet, research required visiting libraries".

What's a simple way to rephrase "before the advent of"?

You can use phrases like "before", "prior to", or "preceding" as simpler alternatives depending on the context.

Is "prior to the advent of" grammatically correct?

Yes, "prior to the advent of" is grammatically correct, but it may sound redundant. "Before the advent of" is generally sufficient.

What is the difference between "before the advent of" and "after the advent of"?

"Before the advent of" refers to a time period preceding a particular development, whereas "after the advent of" indicates a period following that development. They are opposites in terms of time reference.