has previously

USAGE SUMMARY

"has previously" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
This phrase is used to indicate that something has already been done or happened before the current moment or event. For example, "The students have previously taken this test twice before today."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Mr. Simon has previously acknowledged this link.

The New York Times - Books

Charlie has previously ranted: "Hiya Chucky Cheeseball.

Independent

O'Brien has previously acted for Obeid.

The Guardian

Mr. Mettey has previously faced ethical questions.

The New York Times

Sara Lee has previously rejected takeover approaches.

The New York Times

He has previously worked at Goldman Sachs.

The New York Times

Mr. Gbagbo has previously rejected similar proposals.

The New York Times

He has previously worked for Kelkoo, Yahoo!

The Guardian

McGarry has previously denied any wrongdoing.

The Guardian

She has previously worked for SBS.

The Guardian - Opinion

1MDB has previously denied any wrongdoing.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has previously" to clearly indicate that an action or state occurred before the current one, providing context and avoiding ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "has previously" when the context already clearly indicates a past event; redundancy can weaken your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has previously" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. It specifies the timing of an action, indicating that it occurred before the present moment. It is frequently used in reporting and formal writing to provide context and background information, as Ludwig AI indicates.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

18%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has previously" is a versatile adverbial phrase indicating that an action occurred before the present. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely used. Predominantly found in news, science, and formal contexts, it offers clarity and historical perspective. While highly frequent, writers should avoid redundancy. Alternatives like "had done before" and "has formerly done" exist for nuanced expression. Common errors include unnecessary repetition when the context is already clear.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has in the past

A more general way of indicating a past occurrence.

had done before

Focuses on the completion of an action before a specific point in time.

has earlier done

Highlights that something happened at an earlier time.

has prior to this

Indicates something happened before the current situation or event.

has formerly done

Emphasizes a past role or action that is no longer current.

has on an earlier occasion

More formal and emphasizes a specific past instance.

has at one time

Suggests that something was true or happened at some point in the past, but not necessarily recently.

already did

A simpler, more direct way of expressing the same idea, although it may lack the nuance of "has previously".

has been known to

Implies a habitual or repeated action in the past.

has antecedently

A more formal and less common way of saying "has previously".

FAQs

How to use "has previously" in a sentence?

Use "has previously" to indicate that something occurred before the current event or time frame. For example, "The company "has previously rejected" similar offers."

What can I say instead of "has previously"?

You can use alternatives like "had done before", "has formerly done", or "has earlier done" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "had previously" instead of "has previously"?

While both can be correct, "had previously" is used for actions completed before a specific point in the past, whereas "has previously" relates to actions completed before the present. Choose the tense that best fits the timeline you're describing.

What's the difference between "has previously" and "already"?

"Already" is a more general term for something that has occurred before, while "has previously" often emphasizes a prior event in relation to a current situation. "He "has previously denied" the allegations" implies a continuing relevance, while "He already denied the allegations" simply states a past action.