before the interview started

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "before the interview started" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a time period that occurred prior to the beginning of an interview. Example: "I felt nervous before the interview started, but I tried to calm myself down."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

In three interviews, a staff-member introduced HKS as an interviewer, and in two of these they left before the interview started.

BMC Health Services Research

(See the Appendix for details) For remote interviews, the interviewees were asked to share what they wrote (or typed) via email before the interview started.

Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education

Lena Dunham may have stopped by "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" Wednesday night to talk about her show "Girls," but before the interview started she wanted to clear the air about something.

Huffington Post

Written informed consent was waived by the IRB because all the data were analyzed anonymously, but verbal consent was obtained from all the subjects before the interview started.

Plosone

Informed consent was obtained, and also once again immediately before the interview started.

BMC Public Health

All participants signed an informed consent form before the interview started.

BMC Family Practice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Before the interview starts, he's friendly and charismatic, joking around like any wiseass kid.

The Guardian - Music

Just before the interview starts, Denzel Washington flashes something, exposing it just enough to draw a reaction, then putting it away.

The New York Times

Mr. Madiye, who predicted exactly those answers before the interviews started, vented his frustration later.

The New York Times - Health

They signed written informed consent before the interviews started.

BMC Nursing

Informed consent was signed before the interviews started.

BMC Family Practice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "before the interview started" to clearly indicate actions, preparations, or information shared before the formal commencement of an interview. This can help provide context for the events or behaviors that followed.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect tenses with "before the interview started". For example, it is incorrect to say "before the interview starts yesterday" because the tenses do not align. Ensure your sentence maintains a consistent and logical flow of time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before the interview started" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating the temporal relation of events or actions that occur prior to the commencement of an interview. It provides a timeframe for understanding the context of events. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "before the interview started" is a grammatically sound and commonly used prepositional phrase that pinpoints actions or events occurring before an interview's start. As Ludwig highlights, it's deemed correct and suitable for various contexts. Predominantly found in scientific and news media sources, it serves to provide temporal context and establish chronological order. Remember to maintain consistent tense and consider more formal alternatives like "prior to the interview's commencement" when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

before the interview began

This alternative simply uses a different tense of the verb "begin".

ahead of the interview

This is a more concise way of saying the same thing.

in advance of the interview

This emphasizes the proactive nature of doing something early.

preceding the interview's beginning

This is a more formal way of saying the same thing, replacing simple words with their more sophisticated counterparts.

prior to the interview's commencement

This alternative uses more formal vocabulary, replacing "started" with "commencement" and "before" with "prior to".

earlier than the interview

This is a simpler and more direct way of indicating a time before the interview.

leading up to the interview

This phrase emphasizes the period of preparation and events preceding the interview.

in anticipation of the interview

This highlights the expectation and preparation for the interview.

pre-interview

This is a shorter, adjectival form describing something related to the time before the interview.

on the eve of the interview

This alternative suggests a more immediate timeframe directly preceding the interview.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "before the interview started" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives like "prior to the interview's commencement" or "preceding the interview's beginning". These options use more sophisticated vocabulary while maintaining the same meaning.

Is it correct to say "prior to the interview started" instead of "before the interview started"?

While "prior to the interview" is grammatically sound, adding "started" is redundant. Stick to "prior to the interview" or "before the interview started" for clarity.

What's the difference between "before the interview started" and "before the interview begins"?

"Before the interview started" refers to a specific point in the past, whereas "before the interview begins" refers to a future or general event. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the timeframe you're describing.

What are some common actions that might happen "before the interview started"?

Common actions include reviewing the candidate's resume, preparing questions, or the candidate completing paperwork. For example, "All participants signed an informed consent form "before the interview started"".