before the school started

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "before the school started" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a time period prior to the beginning of a school session or academic year. Example: "We had a meeting to discuss the new curriculum before the school started."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The first phase took place well before the school started.

Cornell University

"I am surprised that in the few weeks before the school started, the principal — as opposed to a Department of Education official — would be talking to the press about an issue that doesn't relate to the school," said Randi Weingarten, the president of the United Federation of Teachers, who has been critical of Ms. Almontaser's remarks.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It is particularly important to act before the school starts.

Unicef

"Wouldn't it have been nice if the H1N1 vaccine had been available for our school children BEFORE the school year started?" asks former Governor and Senator Bob Graham (D FL) and former Senator Jim Talent (R MO).

Science Magazine

On Wednesday, the day before school started, the State Education Department ruled that, for the time being, Garrison was responsible for the education of the St. Basil students whose home districts were in New York State.

The New York Times

A judge ordered Buffalo's public school teachers back to their classrooms yesterday after they announced a strike in the hour before school started for the second time in a weeklong and increasingly bitter dispute.

The New York Times

To make the separation process more seamless, the teacher came to our home the day before school started.

The New York Times

In the days before school started, Mr. Bush arrived in corduroys and boat shoes to paint the school chairs primary colors.

The New York Times

And then, on the day before school started, he was.

The New York Times

Was it significant, she wonders, that she disappeared the day before school started?

The New York Times

Marya and Adam had asked a week earlier if they could cook dinner the night before school started.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "before the school started", ensure the context clearly indicates what 'starting' refers to: the academic year, the school day, or the school's initial establishment.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by specifying if you're referring to the school year, a specific program, or the institution's founding when using "before the school started". This clarifies the timeframe and prevents misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before the school started" functions as a prepositional phrase, indicating a time prior to the commencement of school. It typically modifies a verb or noun, providing temporal context.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "before the school started" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig. It functions as a prepositional phrase to denote events or actions occurring prior to the commencement of school. The phrase maintains a neutral register and finds prevalence across diverse contexts such as news, academia, and business. It's crucial to ensure contextual clarity regarding what 'starting' refers to—the academic year, a school day, or the school's founding—to prevent ambiguity. Ludwig AI also indicates that while "before the school started" is more common, alternative phrasing, like "prior to the school starting", is acceptable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the days before school began

Highlights a period of several days leading up to the start.

prior to the opening of school

A slightly more formal way of saying before school starts.

prior to the school's commencement

Replaces 'started' with a more formal noun, 'commencement'.

before the commencement of classes

More formal and emphasizes the academic aspect.

leading up to the school's beginning

Emphasizes the period immediately preceding the start of school.

in advance of the school's starting date

More descriptive, specifying a particular date.

in anticipation of the school's opening

Highlights preparation and expectation before school begins.

preceding the school's initial day

Focuses on the specific day before school starts.

ahead of the school's launch

Uses 'launch' as a synonym for 'start', suggesting a new beginning.

before the school's reopening

Applies when referring to the period before school resumes after a break.

FAQs

How can I use "before the school started" in a sentence?

You can use "before the school started" to describe events or actions that occurred prior to the commencement of the academic year or a specific school program. For example, "The teachers attended a workshop /s/prior+to+the+school+year beginning." Alternatively, consider using phrases such as "prior to the start of school" or /s/leading+up+to+the+school+year.

What's a more formal way to say "before the school started"?

More formal alternatives include "prior to the commencement of the school year" or "in anticipation of the school's /s/opening".

Is "before the school started" different from "before school starts"?

Yes, "before the school started" refers to a point in time in the past, indicating that the school has already begun. "Before school /s/starts" refers to a time in the future, indicating that the school has not yet begun.

Which is correct, "before the school started" or "prior to the school starting"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "before the school started" is more concise and commonly used. "Prior to the school /s/starting" is also acceptable, particularly in formal writing.