before yesterday

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "before yesterday" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the day prior to yesterday, essentially meaning two days ago. Example: "I finished the report before yesterday, so it should be ready for review."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Quins were sick of the sight of Warrington long before yesterday.

Independent

I didn't know who you were before yesterday.

Vice

Day before yesterday.

The New Yorker

Journey to day before yesterday.

Cornell University

"Before yesterday, that wasn't an option".

The New York Times

I have arrived here day before yesterday.

University of California, Berkeley

Before yesterday, an S.&P.

The New York Times

They came out day before yesterday.

The New Yorker

All right, the day before yesterday.

The New York Times

They don't seem like us, the day before yesterday.

The New York Times - Books

She took a polygraph test day before yesterday".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "before yesterday" to add a touch of informality to your writing. However, for clarity and precision, especially in formal contexts, consider using "two days ago".

Common error

Avoid using "before yesterday" when you actually mean "the day before". "Before yesterday" specifically refers to two days ago, while "the day before" requires further context to understand what it precedes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before yesterday" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause. It specifies the time at which an action or event occurred, indicating that it happened two days prior to the current day. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

25%

Sports

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "before yesterday" is a common and grammatically sound way to refer to the day before yesterday, effectively meaning two days ago. While perfectly acceptable in most contexts, especially in news reporting and everyday conversation, more formal or scientific writing may benefit from the clarity and precision of using "two days ago". Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its widespread use across varied sources, confirming its validity in written English. Bear in mind its informal nature, but the source data and Ludwig's assessment confirm it is ok to use in many contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Two days ago

A common and direct alternative, simply stating the number of days in the past.

The day before last

A slightly more descriptive way of saying "before yesterday", emphasizing the sequence of days.

Two days prior

More formal and specific, replacing the idiomatic "before yesterday" with a precise temporal marker.

The previous day but one

A more formal and somewhat archaic way of expressing the same timeframe.

A couple of days back

More informal, indicating a recent point in the past without specifying the exact day.

Earlier this week

Less precise, but suitable if the exact day isn't important and it falls within the current week.

In the recent past

A broader term, indicating sometime not long ago, without specifying a particular day.

Not long ago

A vague temporal reference, suitable when the precise timing isn't crucial.

The day before

Lacks specificity; requires context for clarity, referring to a previous day related to some other event.

Sometime earlier

Extremely vague and unspecific; suitable only when the timing is irrelevant.

FAQs

What does "before yesterday" mean?

"Before yesterday" means the day preceding yesterday, essentially referring to two days ago.

Is it correct to say "before yesterday"?

Yes, "before yesterday" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase, though more formal contexts might prefer "two days ago".

What are some alternatives to saying "before yesterday"?

You can use alternatives like "two days ago", "the day before last", or "two days prior".

Can "before yesterday" be used in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "before yesterday" is generally considered informal. For formal writing, it's better to use phrases like "two days ago" or "two days prior".