before we incorporated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "before we incorporated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a time period prior to the formal establishment of a company or organization. Example: "Before we incorporated, we operated as a small partnership and tested our business model."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

We got our first client even before we incorporated and within a few hours we had to form a company to be able to put together a contract.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"People think we launched Mailbox and then a couple of weeks later we were bought, but the company was almost 2.5 years old, and we'd spent quite a bit of time before we even incorporated the company figuring out how we wanted to approach this whole area".

The Guardian - Tech

This activity was conducted with each expert sequentially where we incorporated comments of one expert before giving to the next.

Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning

We incorporated the strategy of prescribing an initial MPDN bolus 30 minutes before the first dose of the antibiotic combination in order to interfere with the pro-inflammatory wave induced by sudden bacterial killing.

Critical Care

"We incorporated," he said.

The New York Times - Arts

We incorporated a name, the Milwaukee Brewers, without having a team.

The New York Times

I take artistic license; we incorporated other elements.

The New York Times - Arts

But we also incorporated Rafa Marquez for 5 million [about $7 million] and the second season, in 2004, we incorporated Deco, Eto'o, Giuly, Edmilson, Belletti.

The New York Times - Sports

We incorporated Orphans International in Indonesia later that year, and opened our first home in Sulawesi.

The New York Times

In 2002, we incorporated in New York and began raising money here.

The New York Times

"We incorporated that idea as a rubberized tip on the head".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "before we incorporated", ensure the context clearly indicates what actions or events occurred prior to the formal establishment of the company. This helps avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "before we incorporated" when referring to actions taken before simply starting a business, if the business wasn't ultimately structured as a corporation. Using alternative phrases like "before we started the business" clarifies the actual process.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before we incorporated" functions as an adverbial phrase, specifically a prepositional phrase acting as an adverb of time. It modifies a verb or clause by indicating when something happened in relation to the act of incorporation. Ludwig provides examples demonstrating its usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

32%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "before we incorporated" serves as a temporal marker, pinpointing events prior to a company's formal establishment. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and understandable in written English. While examples are relatively rare, the phrase maintains a neutral register and is found across multiple sources, from business narratives to academic research. When using the phrase, ensure that the context clearly defines the activities or events that transpired before the official incorporation to avoid any potential ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prior to our company's formation

Replaces "before" with "prior to" and uses "company's formation" instead of "we incorporated" for a more formal tone.

ahead of our incorporation

Uses "ahead of" to indicate the time before incorporation, providing a slightly different prepositional choice.

pre-incorporation

Uses the prefix "pre-" to create a single word describing the period before incorporation, offering a concise alternative.

in advance of incorporating

Emphasizes the proactive nature of actions taken before incorporation.

leading up to incorporation

Focuses on the period of time that directly precedes the act of incorporating.

in anticipation of incorporation

Highlights the expectation or planning that occurs before the formal incorporation process.

before the business was established

Substitutes "we incorporated" with a more descriptive phrase about establishing the business.

prior to the company's establishment

A formal alternative using "prior to" and "company's establishment".

before the legal entity was created

Replaces "we incorporated" with a more formal description of the legal process.

prior to becoming a corporation

Focuses on the change in status to a corporation.

FAQs

What does "before we incorporated" mean?

The phrase "before we incorporated" refers to the period preceding the formal legal establishment of a company as a corporation. It indicates actions, decisions, or events that took place prior to the company's official incorporation.

How is "before we incorporated" used in a sentence?

You can use "before we incorporated" to describe activities or situations that existed before the company became a legal entity. For example, "Before we incorporated, we operated as a partnership."

What can I say instead of "before we incorporated"?

Alternatives include "prior to incorporation", "before the company was formed", or "pre-incorporation", depending on the level of formality and the specific context.

Is it correct to say "prior to we incorporated"?

While understandable, "prior to we incorporated" is not grammatically standard. The more correct and commonly used phrase is "prior to our incorporation" or simply "before we incorporated".