both current and prospective

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "both current and prospective" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to individuals or entities that are both presently involved and those that may become involved in the future. Example: "The survey aims to gather feedback from both current and prospective customers to improve our services."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Even so, both current and prospective investors will want to monitor performance, he said.

The New York Times

The tone is informal and personal, with engaging imagery, and the university is present across all key social sites as well as offering several smartphone apps for both current and prospective students.

The Guardian

Employees, to start, both current and prospective: Facebook competes aggressively to hire the most talented engineers in Silicon Valley — people who are looking for interesting, new challenges and are also being courted by cutting-edge start-ups and established rivals, like the people in Mountain View behind Google Glass.

The New Yorker

Clients and talented employees -- both current and prospective -- will soon insist on it.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

That is a common enough complaint from both current homeowners and prospective homeowners.

The New York Times

"He's clearly formed a view as to how he sees the team shaping up next season in terms of both current players and prospective signings".

BBC

Now, in a radical shift, all current and prospective foster and adoptive parents are fingerprinted.

The New York Times

Registrants set up personal Web pages to communicate with current and prospective business contacts.

The New York Times

Meanwhile, Warren's current and prospective employers are standing behind him.

The New Yorker

Many of Murdoch's TV customers attend, as do Freud's current and prospective clients.

The New Yorker

But whether it is the approach that will best serve current and prospective American school students is another question entirely.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When addressing a group that includes both current and future members (e.g., employees, students, clients), use "both current and prospective" to clearly indicate inclusivity and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "both current and prospective" when the context already implies the inclusion of both groups. For example, instead of saying, "We welcome both current and prospective members," consider "We welcome all members" if the intention is to include everyone regardless of their status.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "both current and prospective" functions as a modifier to specify the scope of a noun. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct. It's used to ensure that statements or actions apply to individuals or entities in two distinct states: those currently involved and those who may be involved in the future.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Academia

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "both current and prospective" is a grammatically sound and useful expression for explicitly including present and future individuals or entities, according to Ludwig AI. While versatile, it's important to avoid redundancy and use it judiciously. Alternatives like "existing and potential" or "present and future" may be suitable depending on context. Remember to consider the specific meaning you want to convey to maintain clarity and avoid ambiguity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

existing and potential

Replaces "current" with "existing" and "prospective" with "potential", focusing on the state of being rather than a timeline.

active and potential

Similar to "existing and potential", emphasizing the active participation versus the possibility of future involvement.

present and future

Uses broader terms to encompass the present and future aspects, losing some specificity in certain contexts.

contemporary and upcoming

Adds a nuance of timeliness, referring to what is happening now and what is soon to come.

serving and future

Often used for positions in organization or institutions, future means those who will serve.

incumbent and incoming

More specific, often used in contexts involving roles or positions that are currently held and those expected to be filled.

established and emerging

Highlights a contrast between what is already in place and what is starting to develop.

immediate and subsequent

Focuses more on the temporal sequence, suitable when highlighting the timing of events or stages.

realized and anticipated

Highlights what is already accomplished and what is expected to be achieved

today's and tomorrow's

Uses informal language, appropriate for simple context.

FAQs

How can I use "both current and prospective" in a sentence?

Use "both current and prospective" to refer to two groups: those who are presently involved and those who are expected or likely to become involved. For instance, "The university aims to support both current and prospective students".

What are some alternatives to "both current and prospective"?

You can use alternatives like "existing and potential", "present and future", or "incumbent and incoming", depending on the context.

Is it redundant to use "both current and prospective"?

It can be redundant if the context already implies both groups. Ensure that using "both current and prospective" adds clarity rather than unnecessary repetition. Consider simplifying to "all" or a similar term if inclusivity is already understood.

What's the difference between "both current and prospective" and "both past and future"?

"Both current and prospective" focuses on the present and immediate future, whereas "both past and future" refers to historical events and distant future possibilities. The choice depends on whether you are referring to present and near-term entities or broader temporal scopes.