famous precedent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "famous precedent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a well-known case or example that serves as a guide or justification for a particular action or decision. Example: "The court's ruling was influenced by a famous precedent that established the legal principles involved in this case."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In calling for a moratorium on germline modification, the group invoked a famous precedent: the 1975 meeting at Asilomar, California on recombinant DNA.

The Guardian

Though many Americans assumed the Vietnamese would never attack during Tet, there was a famous precedent in 1789, when Nguyen Hue launched a surprise attack on Chinese forces in Vietnam during that same holiday.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Then you start to sense the carefully plotted spatial perspective in some of the explosions and recognize the famous precedents that are the basis for others.

The New York Times

(Such casting has famous precedents: the comedian Bert Lahr played Estragon in the 1956 version, and Robin Williams and Steve Martin starred in the much debated 1988 Lincoln Center production, in which Mr. Irwin appeared as Lucky.) As it turns out, these actors serve the purposes of Beckett's bleak comedy admirably (and in Mr. Goodman's case, spectacularly).

The New York Times

Famous precedents actually exist on the sometimes wide discrepancies between observational and controlled studies, which can be explained by designs of the later ones that afterward appeared unsuitable to demonstrate an effect [ 19].

Arthritis Research and Therapy

The argument isn't unheard of, by any means; there's even a famous recent precedent in the shoe business itself.

The New Yorker

The most famous Detroit precedent for this strategy -- and the one Cope points to as another inspiration -- is the artist Tyree Guyton's Heidelberg Project.

The New York Times

Thus Ms. Zwilich (who was the first woman to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize for music and the first to receive a doctoral degree in composition from the Juilliard School) had no famous historical precedent to study.

The New York Times - Arts

Whether intentionally or not, his approach follows a famous old precedent from 1936-37 when Paul Keres and Reuben Fine, then the rising stars of Europe and the US, also played with little rest and ended up tied first at Avro 1938 ahead of four world champions.

The Guardian - Sport

The famous British precedent for this is 1970.

Vice

Despite some of the more dubious health claims celebrities have made over the years, there are precedents for famous people using their platforms to advocate for responsible health decisions.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "famous precedent" when you want to emphasize that the precedent is widely known and acknowledged, not just any past occurrence.

Common error

Avoid using "famous precedent" in casual conversations or informal writing. It's better suited for academic, legal, or journalistic contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "famous precedent" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "famous" modifies the noun "precedent". As supported by Ludwig, it refers to a well-known case or event that serves as an example or justification for subsequent actions or decisions.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "famous precedent" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a well-known prior event that serves as a justification or example. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability, though its frequency is relatively rare. The phrase is most commonly found in news and scientific contexts and aims to invoke authority. When using this phrase, consider the formality of your writing and choose alternatives like ""well-known example"" or ""notable prior case"" based on the specific situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

well-known example

Replaces 'famous' with 'well-known', focusing on the recognition of the precedent.

notable prior case

Substitutes 'famous' with 'notable' and 'precedent' with 'prior case', emphasizing the significance and chronological aspect.

prominent historical example

Uses 'prominent historical' instead of 'famous', highlighting the importance and the historical nature of the precedent.

landmark prior decision

Replaces 'famous precedent' with 'landmark prior decision', which is often used in legal contexts.

significant past instance

Changes 'famous' to 'significant' and 'precedent' to 'past instance', stressing the importance and occurrence of the event.

renowned earlier model

Substitutes 'famous' with 'renowned' and 'precedent' with 'earlier model', underlining its admired nature and representation.

celebrated antecedent

Replaces 'famous' with 'celebrated', emphasizing the recognition and acclaim, and 'precedent' with 'antecedent'.

widely recognized prototype

Uses 'widely recognized' instead of 'famous', focusing on the breadth of acknowledgement, and replaces 'precedent' with 'prototype'.

esteemed preliminary occurrence

Changes 'famous' to 'esteemed' and 'precedent' to 'preliminary occurrence', emphasizing respect and temporality.

historic pattern

Shortens the phrase and replace the words, putting emphasis on the historical element.

FAQs

How can I use "famous precedent" in a sentence?

You can use "famous precedent" to refer to a well-known prior example that serves as a guide or justification. For example, "The judge cited a "famous precedent" in her ruling."

What are some alternatives to "famous precedent"?

Alternatives include "well-known example", "notable prior case", or "landmark decision" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "a precedent that is famous" instead of "famous precedent"?

Yes, "a precedent that is famous" is grammatically correct, but ""famous precedent"" is more concise and commonly used.

What makes a precedent "famous"?

A precedent becomes "famous" through widespread recognition, significant impact, and frequent citation in subsequent cases or discussions. It's a precedent that is widely known and acknowledged for its importance.