before today

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "before today" is correct and usable in written English.
Example sentence: I had not considered the ramifications of my decision before today.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But he has clashed with the Yankees long before today.

The New York Times - Sports

Before today.

The New York Times

"Before today, no," Jeter said.

The New York Times - Sports

Everybody before today fought for it.

The New York Times - Magazine

"I was unknown before today.

The Guardian - Sport

"It kind of goes back before today.

The New York Times - Sports

Before Today is out now on 4AD.

The Guardian - Music

China had no saints before today.

The New York Times

And post they have — even before today officially began.

The New York Times

You've never pulled that trigger before today?" Nope.

The New York Times

Maybe, but you should have started long before today.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "before today" to clearly indicate a contrast between a past situation and the present one. This is especially effective when highlighting a change or new realization.

Common error

Avoid using "before today" when a more specific timeframe is relevant. For instance, if referring to events before this week, use "earlier this week" rather than "before today" to avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before today" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb or clause to indicate when something occurred. Ludwig examples show this phrase sets a temporal boundary, differentiating past actions or states from the present.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "before today" is a versatile and frequently used adverbial phrase indicating a time preceding the present day. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and commonly employed across diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media. While "before today" is generally neutral in tone, more formal settings might favor alternatives like "prior to today". Use "before today" to emphasize contrasts between past and present situations, but avoid it when a more specific timeframe would provide better clarity. Remember, Ludwig provides numerous examples to guide its correct usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prior to this day

A more formal and slightly redundant variation of the original phrase.

earlier than today

Emphasizes the temporal relation more explicitly.

before this

A shorter, more casual way of saying "before today", implying the present moment as a reference.

previously

A single-word adverb that replaces the prepositional phrase with a more concise expression of past time.

in the past

A more general phrase indicating a time before the present, not necessarily limited to the current day.

until today

Focuses on the period leading up to the current day, highlighting a change or culmination.

until the present day

Highlights the duration leading up to the current day.

up to now

Similar to 'until today', but can extend beyond a single day, encompassing a longer period of time.

heretofore

A formal and somewhat archaic term meaning 'up to this time'.

in earlier times

A more descriptive phrase emphasizing a past era or period.

FAQs

How can I use "before today" in a sentence?

You can use "before today" to contrast a past state with the current one, such as, "I didn't know about this issue "before today", but now I'm aware of it."

What are some alternatives to using "before today"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "previously", "in the past", or "until today".

Is it more formal to say "prior to today" instead of "before today"?

Yes, "prior to today" is slightly more formal than "before today". "Before today" is suitable for most contexts, while "prior to today" may be preferred in more formal writing.

What's the difference between "before today" and "yesterday"?

"Yesterday" refers specifically to the day immediately preceding the current day. "Before today" is broader and can refer to any time preceding the current day, including yesterday and earlier.