directly preceding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "directly preceding" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to something that comes immediately before another item or event in a sequence. Example: "The instructions provided in the document directly preceding this one are crucial for understanding the process."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

We wanted punctuation proper, marks that suggest an inflection or syntactical separation for the content directly preceding or following.

The New Yorker

The artists directly preceding the Clean played solo and were burdened by the structures of storytelling -- they couldn't lose themselves in sound as easily as could a full band.

The New York Times - Arts

Interest in the prodromal stage of schizophrenia the stage directly preceding the onset of psychosis has recently undergone a dramatic increase.

Schizophrenia Research

Perhaps more troubling, Yahoo has had its revenue decline sequentially as well, with the most recent quarter bringing in less than the directly preceding now for both of 2013's reported quarters.

TechCrunch

For this, we first collected ten successive nurse-validated SpO2 and FiO2 values over 10 min directly preceding, and at the time, an arterial blood sample was drawn for blood gas analysis.

Annals of Intensive Care

The value for baseline creatinine was obtained from the most recently measured creatinine concentration in the year prior to the ICU stay excluding the 7 days directly preceding ICU admission and considered to be representative of the baseline kidney function according to the judgment of the treating physician.

Annals of Intensive Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

This had been directly preceded by another cinematic misfire.

The New York Times - Arts

One is the immediate cause of death, the specific ailment that directly preceded it.

The New York Times - Health

But Cook had strong words in an address that directly preceded remarks from Obama.

The Guardian - Tech

This article was amended to clarify that Vicente Fox did not directly precede Mexico's current leader, Enrique Peña Nieto.

The Guardian

The emperor himself rode on horseback and was directly preceded by 500 slaves, each carrying a gold-adorned staff.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "directly preceding" to clearly indicate that something occurs immediately before another event or element without any intervening steps. This emphasizes the immediate sequence.

Common error

Avoid using "directly preceding" when there is an intervening element or a longer time gap between the events. Ensure the sequence is immediate to maintain clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "directly preceding" acts as a prepositional modifier, specifying the immediate temporal or sequential relationship between two elements. It clarifies that the relationship is not just prior, but immediately so, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

25%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "directly preceding" is a prepositional phrase used to indicate that something comes immediately before another item or event in a sequence. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used. It's common in various contexts, including science, news, and encyclopedias, where precision is necessary. To enhance clarity, it's crucial to use "directly preceding" when the sequence is immediate, avoiding its use when there are intervening elements. Alternatives such as "immediately before" or "right before" can be used depending on the context and the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

immediately preceding

Adds emphasis to the immediacy of the sequence.

preceding

A simpler, shorter synonym.

immediately before

Emphasizes temporal closeness and immediacy.

right before

A more informal way to express immediate succession.

just prior to

A slightly more formal alternative emphasizing time.

straight before

Informal; emphasizes lack of intermediary steps.

antecedent to

Indicates something that comes before in a causal or logical sequence; more formal.

the instant before

Highlights the very brief interval before something else.

in advance of

Focuses on the preparatory aspect of what comes before.

on the heels of

Implies close following, though less precise about immediacy.

FAQs

How can I use "directly preceding" in a sentence?

Use "directly preceding" to show that something comes immediately before something else. For example, "The chapter "directly preceding this one" covers the historical context".

What are some alternatives to "directly preceding"?

Alternatives include "immediately before", "right before", or "just prior to", depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

Is "directly preceding" formal or informal?

"Directly preceding" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its formality depends more on the surrounding vocabulary.

What's the difference between "preceding" and "directly preceding"?

"Preceding" indicates something that comes before, while "directly preceding" emphasizes that it comes immediately before without anything in between. The addition of "directly" stresses the immediacy of the sequence.