have previously joined

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have previously joined" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has become a member of a group or organization at an earlier time. Example: "Those who have previously joined the club are encouraged to renew their membership for the upcoming year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

These can be read and we are revealing all wi-fis we have previously joined.

BBC

Google and Plaxo joining are a positive, however given that both have previously joined together for platforms such as OpenSocial it's not that significant, but Facebook is another matter.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Having previously joined campaigns relating to climate change and internet piracy, she has become increasingly politically outspoken on Twitter.

The Guardian - Music

It has previously joined forces with peer-to-peer lender Zopa to offer loans through its platform.

The Guardian - Money

BAe, having previously joined the losing McDonnell Douglas team, must now decide whether to throw in its lot with Lockheed Martin or Boeing.

The Economist

Some members of political factions that had previously joined rallies for Mr. Mubarak's incarceration, or even execution, said they believed the public did not care so much anymore.

The New York Times

The committee itself has previously joined the chorus of complaint but now advocates a system that would introduce further "multiple lines of financial accountability" and necessitate the establishment of (yet more) "robust procedures" to ensure this would operate as intended.

The Guardian

The vote, taken on Saturday, ended a split between those actors' unions, which in the last round bargained separately after a disagreement over strategy but had previously joined in making deals with the major television production companies.

The New York Times - Arts

She was photographed at the Glastonbury festival last month, donning Water Aid charity wellies and sharing a polka dot umbrella with Naomi Campbell, having previously joined the supermodel and the socialite Paris Hilton for dinner at the African Ladies Health Summit in Los Angeles.

Independent

Sarah DeLucas, 28, a marketing coordinator at CQ Press, a publishing company, and a founder of the DC League, had previously joined a mixed kickball league when she moved to Washington, but became disenchanted when she found her male competitors to be too aggressive.

The New York Times

The Free Democrats had previously joined economists and labor representatives in opposing the subsidy, but agreed to support the measure in exchange for dropping the quarterly fees of about $13 that Germans insured through the public health care system have been required to pay since 2004.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have previously joined", ensure the context clearly indicates what was joined and when the joining occurred. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "have previously joined" when "previously joined" suffices. The "have" implies a past action with present relevance, and "previously" already indicates past time. For instance, "He previously joined the team" is often clearer than "He has previously joined the team".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have previously joined" functions as a present perfect verb phrase, indicating an action completed at an unspecified time in the past that has relevance to the present. Ludwig examples showcase its use in conveying prior affiliations or memberships.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have previously joined" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed phrase for indicating past membership or affiliation with present relevance. Ludwig confirms its correctness and suitability for various contexts, particularly in news and media. While versatile, it's essential to avoid redundancy by omitting "before" and to be mindful of the nuance when compared to similar phrases like "have recently joined". By adhering to these guidelines, writers can effectively use "have previously joined" to convey relevant background information with precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

became a member of before

Rephrases the order, emphasizing the action of becoming a member.

have been a member before

Focuses on prior membership status rather than the act of joining.

were formerly affiliated with

Implies a more formal connection or association.

have at one time been part of

Suggests a less formal connection or a more temporary affiliation.

had belonged to in the past

Emphasizes past belonging or ownership.

were once associated with

Implies a connection that no longer exists.

have participated in earlier

Highlights prior participation rather than formal joining.

have prior involvement in

Focuses on engagement rather than formal membership.

enrolled in previously

Suggests a prior enrollment or registration.

experienced membership with

Suggests that the focus in not only on the joining itself but also on a period of membership.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "have previously joined" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "were formerly affiliated with" or "had a prior association with", depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "have previously joined before"?

Yes, using "before" with "have previously joined" is redundant. The word "previously" already implies that the action occurred at an earlier time. Just use "have previously joined" or, for even more conciseness, "previously joined".

What's the difference between "have previously joined" and "have recently joined"?

"Have previously joined" indicates a past action without specifying how recent it was, while "have recently joined" implies that the action occurred not long ago. The choice depends on whether the timing is important to the context.

What are some common alternatives to "have previously joined" in informal contexts?

In informal settings, you can use alternatives such as "were part of before", "had been in before", or simply "joined earlier".