existed previously

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "existed previously" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to something that was present or in existence at an earlier time. Example: "The ancient ruins are a testament to a civilization that existed previously in this region."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"This system is already providing superior coverage to what existed previously," she said.

The New York Times

Certain no other national capital has existed previously as a theoretical point on a map.

The New Yorker

"When we fail to look at what existed previously and why, we rob ourselves of context and roots".

The Guardian

Under the NMA's umbrella will be the Independent Publishers Forumm, which existed previously as part of the NS.

The Guardian

"The Qaeda ideology existed previously, but it was suppressed by the regime," he said in a Skype interview.

The New York Times

Mr. Levinson said that an update to Apple's operating system changed the location of the file storing the information, but that the file had existed previously.

The New York Times - Tech

"But we have made it clear that we do not believe the inspection regime that existed previously is adequate to the demands of the day and adequate to the challenge we're facing right now with continued Iraqi intransigence".

The New York Times

Whether this is a totally new condition, or whether more extensive collecting has simply revealed something which has existed previously is not easy to determine, but the weight of evidence of previous authors (Legge, Wait, etc).

The New Yorker

Reibl says: "If there is another storm that is even close to Haiyan … there could be higher death tolls, there could be much worse impact because the resilience that existed previously is all down.

The Guardian

This idea is particularly prevalent in the UK, my home country, which generally seems to hold in high esteem the idea that increased racial mixing is a marker of progress – as if it had never existed previously.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

And, of course, football didn't really exist previously.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "existed previously" to clearly indicate that something was present or a reality before a specific point in time or event, particularly when contrasting past and present conditions.

Common error

Avoid using "existed previously" in contexts where "existed" alone is sufficient. The word "previously" is already implied when discussing past existence, so ensure it adds specific clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "existed previously" functions as a verb phrase indicating a state of being in the past. It clarifies that something was in existence before a specific point in time, as shown in Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "existed previously" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed verb phrase, denoting a past state of being. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and wide applicability across diverse fields, including News & Media, Science, and Encyclopedias. While semantically similar alternatives like "existed before" and ""previously existed"" offer nuanced variations, "existed previously" remains a clear and effective choice for conveying past existence. When using this phrase, ensure it adds specific clarity and avoids redundancy for the most impactful writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previously existed

Reorders the words but maintains the exact same meaning and grammatical function.

existed before

A shorter and more direct way of saying something was present at an earlier time.

had existed

Uses the past perfect tense to emphasize that the existence finished before another point in time.

existed formerly

Uses a more formal synonym for "previously", suitable for more academic or professional contexts.

existed in the past

Emphasizes that the existence was in a time before the present.

was present before

Replaces "existed" with "was present", focusing on the presence rather than the existence.

existed at an earlier time

Expands the phrase to explicitly mention an earlier point in time.

used to exist

Indicates a state of existence that is no longer true.

once existed

Highlights that the existence was at some point in the past, without specifying when.

existed at one time

Focuses on the existence being true during a specific period in the past.

FAQs

How can I use "existed previously" in a sentence?

You can use "existed previously" to indicate something was present before a certain time. For example, "The inspection regime that "existed previously" is not adequate."

What's a more formal synonym for "existed previously"?

A more formal synonym is "existed formerly". It's suitable for academic or professional contexts.

Is it redundant to say "previously existed"?

The phrase "previously existed" is acceptable and emphasizes the past occurrence, but using just "existed" might suffice in many contexts. If you want to avoid this, reword your sentence to keep it concise.

What's the difference between "existed previously" and "used to exist"?

"Existed previously" generally refers to something present at an earlier time. "Used to exist" implies that something no longer exists.