earlier undertakings

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "earlier undertakings" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to commitments or agreements made in the past. Example: "In light of our earlier undertakings, we must ensure that we fulfill our obligations to the stakeholders."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Russia halted discussions on a punitive resolution last week, prompting the American ambassador, John Bolton, to accuse Moscow of reneging on earlier undertakings.

The Guardian - Opinion

Russia halted discussions on a punitive resolution last week, prompting the US ambassador, John Bolton, to accuse Moscow of reneging on earlier undertakings.

The Guardian

Voting fun Mourning, and questioning, in Bahrain On and on, they fight Libya and the bombed airliners Zambia's mystery bombs Trench warfare ReprintsThe French lamely say that they "expect" Mr Qaddafi, who has always denied any Libyan government involvement, to assume the full consequences of the ruling in accordance with his earlier undertakings.

The Economist

They add to earlier undertakings by Australia's attorney general, George Brandis, not to personally seek details of the files seized from the offices of a Canberra-based lawyer working for Timor-Leste, nor to use them in the pending arbitration of a treaty dispute between the two countries.

The Guardian

The Hanoverians, Hessians and Danes, despite earlier undertakings, found, or invented, pressing reasons for withholding their support.

Wikipedia

Contrary to earlier undertakings of the challenge the dose response curves in our study were established using a method that accounts for the individual cell lines' growth rate and AUC 0 was used as summary statistic.

BMC Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

In these early undertakings, I did not focus specifically on the environment, but I was constantly confronted by dismaying evidence of the dramatic deterioration of humanity's relationship with nature.

The Guardian - Arts

In other undertakings, though, context is often crucial.

The New York Times

Why not place this incident in the context of many other undertakings that produced stellar results?

The New York Times

Mr Okamura is now a senator, and based on support in his native Moravia his Dawn of Direct Democracy party is looking more popular than earlier entrepreneurial undertakings.Angry voters are eyeing alternatives they perceive as outside a rotten establishment, Communists included.

The Economist

The approach to a private company was "a marked deviation from her earlier stand that public sector undertakings can change the industrial map of West Bengal," the newspaper said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "earlier undertakings" to clearly reference commitments or agreements made in the past, particularly when discussing adherence to or deviation from those promises.

Common error

Avoid using "earlier undertakings" when referring to ongoing or current projects. This phrase specifically denotes commitments made in the past that may or may not be completed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "earlier undertakings" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. It refers to commitments or agreements made at a previous time, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

17%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "earlier undertakings" is grammatically sound and serves to reference past commitments or agreements. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its correct usage and applicability in various contexts. While not exceedingly common, the phrase is appropriate for formal and neutral settings, as it appears in reputable sources like The Guardian and The New York Times. Related phrases such as "previous commitments" and "prior agreements" can be used as alternatives to add variety to your writing. When using this phrase, be sure to clearly define the referenced undertakings to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previous commitments

Emphasizes the binding nature of the past agreements.

prior agreements

Highlights the formal, contractual aspect of the past accords.

past pledges

Focuses on promises made at an earlier time.

former obligations

Stresses the duties that existed in the past.

initial promises

Highlights the introductory nature of the assurances given at the start.

original contracts

Specifies the initial legally binding documents.

early arrangements

Refers to informal plans or agreements made at an early stage.

preliminary accords

Indicates initial, often less formal, agreements.

antecedent covenants

Emphasizes the historical and binding nature of the agreements.

legacy commitments

Highlights the continuing impact or relevance of past promises.

FAQs

How can I use "earlier undertakings" in a sentence?

You can use "earlier undertakings" to refer to past commitments or agreements, like in the sentence, "The company failed to honor its "earlier undertakings" to reduce carbon emissions."

What's a more formal synonym for "earlier undertakings"?

A more formal synonym would be "prior agreements" or "previous commitments", which emphasize the binding nature of the past accords.

Is "earlier undertakings" the same as "current undertakings"?

No, "earlier undertakings" refer to commitments from the past, while "current undertakings" refer to ongoing projects or commitments. They are not interchangeable.

When is it appropriate to use "earlier undertakings" in professional writing?

It's appropriate to use "earlier undertakings" when you need to reference and discuss prior agreements, obligations, or commitments in a formal context, such as legal documents, business reports, or policy statements.