few dates before

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "few dates before" is not correct in standard written English.
It should be "a few days before" or "a few dates prior" depending on the context. Example: "We had our last meeting a few days before the conference."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

(In relationship terms, we'd be talking a few dates before Hollywood met someone else and things fizzled out).

The Guardian - Film

This coming October, he's playing his last few dates before retirement, culminating in a ten night run at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Huffington Post

You probably had more than a few dates before you settled on your previous partner, so be gentle with yourself and give yourself time.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

I'd been on a few Tinder dates before and it's awkward when two people meet in such a context.

Vice

We had had managed a good few dates across the US before we found ourselves in cowboy country.

The Guardian - Music

The Agency Group said on Wednesday that it had signed up Mr. Hogan for the production, called "In Conversation: Outside the Ring with Hulk Hogan," which will start with a few dates in the fall before commencing a worldwide tour next year.

The New York Times

The band, which also consists of front man Paul Meany, bassist/guitarist Roy Mitchell-Candenew and new guitarist Todd Gummerman, are currently playing a few dates here or there before launching their "Odd Soul Introduction Tour" on Sept. 7.

Huffington Post

McLachlan said Lambert left for the same reasons, but the ballsy babe of country did show up for a few dates earlier on this tour before inexplicably exiting.

Huffington Post

They went on a few more dates before he did another usual thing: End things before they become too serious.

The New York Times

They managed a few more dates before returning to college, and soon were e-mailing and texting by day, and were on the telephone every night, when he would sing Yiddish songs to her.

The New York Times

She was back in Florence to rehearse a new program, using an ad hoc company, Armitage Gone! Dance, that would play a few Italian dates before traveling across the Atlantic for three performances starting Tuesday at the Joyce Theater as part of the Altogether Different festival.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to specific dates, clarify whether you mean calendar dates or appointments. If it's appointments, consider rephrasing to 'a few meetings before' for clarity. For referring to calendar dates, it's better to specify "a few days before".

Common error

Avoid using "few dates before" when you actually mean "a few days before". "Dates" generally refer to calendar dates or scheduled appointments, while "days" specify a duration of time. Always ensure your wording accurately reflects your intended meaning to prevent ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "few dates before" functions as an adverbial modifier, attempting to specify a time frame relative to a specific event. However, Ludwig AI flags it as not being correct in standard written English, suggesting it should be rephrased to "a few days before" or "a few dates prior".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

33%

Science

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "few dates before" attempts to specify a period leading up to certain dates, it is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in standard written English. As Ludwig AI points out, clearer and more accurate alternatives include "a few days before" (when referring to a time period) or "a couple of dates prior" (for a more formal tone). Although the phrase appears in various sources, including news and general writing, its incorrectness detracts from its suitability for formal contexts. When clarity and grammatical accuracy are paramount, it's best to opt for a more precise alternative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a couple of dates prior

Replaces "few" with "a couple" and "before" with "prior", providing a more formal tone.

some dates preceding

Substitutes "few" with "some" and "before" with the more formal "preceding".

a handful of dates earlier

Uses "a handful" instead of "few", conveying a slightly larger quantity, and "earlier" in place of "before".

several dates preceding

Replaces "few" with "several", indicating a slightly larger number of dates, and uses "preceding" for a more formal tone.

a few days before the dates

Adds "days" to emphasize the time aspect and clarifies the context with "the dates".

shortly before the dates

Uses an adverbial phrase to indicate nearness in time to the dates.

not long before the dates

Employs a negative construction to convey a short duration prior to the dates.

just before the dates

Replaces the more vague term with "just" which is more precise in relation to a specific time.

a small number of dates prior

Expresses a limited quantity of dates in a more elaborate phrasing before a specified time.

dates immediately preceding

Indicates dates that occur right before a specific event, using more formal language.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "few dates before" in a sentence?

While "few dates before" might sound natural, it's often grammatically incorrect. Consider using "a few days before" or "a couple of dates prior" to ensure clarity and correctness.

What's the difference between "few dates before" and "a few days before"?

"Few dates before" is vague and grammatically dubious. "A few days before" is specific and refers to a time duration preceding an event. Use "a few days before" for clarity.

Is it ever appropriate to use the phrase "few dates before"?

It's generally best to avoid "few dates before" in formal writing. Instead, opt for clearer alternatives like "a few days before", "a couple of dates prior", or similar phrases depending on the context.

What are some alternatives to "few dates before" in a business context?

In business contexts, prefer more precise and formal alternatives such as "several dates preceding", "a couple of dates prior", or specify the exact timeframe (e.g., "three days before the deadline").