if there is a prior

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "if there is a prior" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are referring to a previous event, condition, or agreement that may affect the current situation. Example: "We can proceed with the project, but only if there is a prior agreement in place."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

An action is free if there is a prior circumstance in which a "volition" of the actor causes the action, and in that, otherwise the same, circumstance a volition to act otherwise would with high probability have brought about a different action.

SEP

It also allows entering the number of sites for each motif if there is a prior knowledge about the number of occurrences that the motif has in the dataset.

Biology Direct

Based on these findings, recruitment target rates could work on the assumption that three months to recruit 10 care homes that are not part of a larger organisation is an achievable goal, if there is a prior history of association.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Although there has been a lack of methods for global discovery of inversions, it has long been possible to test for the presence of inversions in a targeted manner if there is a prior hypothesis that a region may be inverted.

Genome Medicine

First, if there is a prior belief that the intervention will do more good than harm [ 5], rather than a prior belief of equipoise [ 6], it may be unethical to withhold the intervention from a proportion of the participants, or to withdraw the intervention as would occur in a cross-over design.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"If there was a prior incident that was not reported, that in my judgment would be a very serious matter, and I don't care how safe the school has been historically".

The New York Times

If there were a prior knowledge of the travel times close to those of the final optimal solution, then less number of iterations would be needed to meet the convergence criterion.

Journal of Modern Transportation

Participants were excluded if there was a prior history of major psychiatric disorder, major depression, or any neurological disorder.

BMC Geriatrics

For all patients diagnosed with HZ we checked if there was a prior documented diagnosis of "condition after Herpes zoster" or a prior diagnosis of HZ without a documented month.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Children were deferred for enrolment if there was a) prior TST administration in the preceding 3 months, b) live measles or polio vaccine within the past 6 weeks or c) recent acute illness requiring hospitalization (preceding 6 weeks).

BMC Infectious Diseases

The odds of ordering an SM were 38%% greater if there was a prior breast biopsy negative for cancer (OR: 1.38; 95 % CI: 1.15, 1.65), and almost 4 times greater if there was no SM in the past year (OR: 3.94, 95 % CI: 3.47, 4.48).

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "if there is a prior", ensure that the subsequent clause clearly explains the impact or consequence of that prior condition. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "if there is a prior" without clearly specifying what the 'prior' refers to. Always provide enough context to make the antecedent unambiguous.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "if there is a prior" functions as a conditional clause, setting a condition that must be met based on a previous event or state. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. Example sentences illustrate its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

22%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "if there is a prior" is a grammatically correct conditional phrase used to establish a contingency based on a previous event or state. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable in written English. It is most commonly found in scientific, news, and formal business contexts, though its overall frequency is rare. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the 'prior' condition unambiguously. Consider using more formal alternatives like "given a prior condition" or "provided a prior occurrence exists" in professional settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

if there has been a prior

Changes the tense to present perfect, emphasizing that the prior event has relevance to the present.

if a prior one exists

Shortens the phrase while maintaining the core meaning.

given a prior condition

Replaces "if there is" with "given", highlighting a pre-existing state.

provided a prior occurrence exists

Similar to "given", emphasizing a condition that must be met.

depending on a prior

Highlights the reliance on a preceding element.

assuming a prior existence

Frames it as an assumption rather than a direct statement of fact.

in the event of a prior

Highlights the contingency based on a previous event.

conditional on a prior

Makes the conditional aspect explicit and formal.

should a prior instance exist

Uses a more formal and hypothetical tone.

on the basis of a prior

Focuses on the foundation or justification provided by a prior event.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "if there is a prior" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "given a prior condition" or "provided a prior occurrence exists". These alternatives /s/given+a+prior+condition and /s/provided+a+prior+occurrence+exists add a level of sophistication suitable for academic or professional writing.

What's a simpler way to say "if there is a prior"?

You could use "if there was a previous" or "if there's a past". These options are less formal but convey the same meaning effectively./s/if+there+was+a+previous

When is it appropriate to use "if there is a prior"?

"If there is a prior" is appropriate when you're establishing a condition based on a previous event, agreement, or state. It is commonly used in legal, scientific, and business contexts.

What's the difference between "if there is a prior" and "if there has been a prior"?

"If there is a prior" generally refers to a condition existing at a specific point in time, while "if there has been a prior"/s/if+there+has+been+a+prior (present perfect) emphasizes that the prior event has relevance to the present situation.