before we started

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "before we started" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a point in time before a particular process or event began. For example, "We had a great time together before we started arguing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"They were sacrificing before we started sharing".

The New York Times

"He liked to arm wrestle before we started recording".

Independent

"We wanted to listen before we started talking".

The New York Times

And that was all planned before we started shooting.

The New Yorker

"Before we started rehearsal I got nervous," she confessed.

The New York Times

She wore my clothes before we started working together.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Before we started it people were not aware," Sithole says.

The Guardian

Partners cared about profits long before we started measuring them.

The New York Times

It was better than before we started the study".

The Guardian

"Psychologically, I found it much harder before we started shooting.

The Guardian - Film

Before we started this band, I was smug.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "before we started" to clearly indicate the sequence of events, ensuring the reader understands what happened prior to a specific action or period. For example, "Before we started the meeting, we reviewed the agenda."

Common error

Be precise with time references. Instead of just saying "before we started", clarify what "we" refers to and what exactly "started". For instance, specify "before the team started the project" to avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before we started" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a time frame preceding a particular action or event. It sets the temporal context for subsequent clauses, as demonstrated by examples in Ludwig. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "before we started" is a versatile and grammatically sound prepositional phrase that is commonly used to establish temporal context. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and it appears frequently in various sources, particularly in News & Media, Academia, and Science. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what "we" and "started" refer to. For more formal alternatives, consider "prior to our beginning" or "previous to our undertaking". Overall, "before we started" is a reliable choice for indicating events that preceded a particular commencement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prior to our beginning

Replaces "started" with "beginning" and "we" with "our", creating a more formal tone.

previous to our undertaking

A more formal alternative using "previous to" and "undertaking" in place of "before" and "started" respectively.

ahead of our commencement

Substitutes "before" with "ahead of" and "started" with the more formal "commencement".

anterior to our inception

Employs "anterior to" and "inception" for a more sophisticated and less common phrasing.

leading up to our initiation

Emphasizes the period leading to the start, using "initiation" instead of "started".

antecedent to our embarkation

Uses "antecedent to" and "embarkation" for a formal and somewhat literary alternative.

preceding our launch

Replaces "started" with "launch", implying the beginning of a project or venture.

in anticipation of our kickoff

Uses "in anticipation of" to convey a sense of expectation before the start, replacing "started" with "kickoff".

in advance of our get-go

Uses the informal phrase "get-go" for "start", preceded by "in advance of".

ere we commenced

An archaic alternative, replacing "before" with "ere" and "started" with "commenced".

FAQs

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

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases such as "prior to our commencement", "previous to our undertaking", or "antecedent to our embarkation". Each offers a more sophisticated alternative depending on the specific context.

What are some informal alternatives to "before we started"?

If you are aiming for a more casual tone, you could use phrases like "leading up to" or "ahead of". The choice depends on the specific nuances you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "before we started" and "before we begin"?

While both phrases indicate a point in time preceding an action, "before we started" implies that the action has already commenced and is now in the past. "Before we begin", on the other hand, refers to an action that is about to start in the near future.

How to use "before we started" correctly in a sentence?

Ensure that the sentence clearly indicates what "we" refers to and what action or event "started". For example, "Before we started the presentation, we reviewed the slides" provides a clear and unambiguous meaning.