Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
immediate preceding
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
"immediate preceding" is correct and usable in written English.
You would typically use it to refer to something that happened just before something else. For example: "The immediate preceding speaker discussed the company's earnings for the last quarter."
✓ Grammatically correct
Science
Encyclopedias
News & Media
Alternative expressions(7)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
22 human-written examples
Two seats in the Assembly are reserved, however one for the immediate past president and one for the runner-up in the immediate preceding presidential election.
Encyclopedias
The game classified under a game of imperfect information is to be equally well-defined, since the decision made on any stage of the game is purely based on the decision that was made on the immediate preceding stage.
Science
Preceding birth interval The interval in months between birth of the child under study and the immediate preceding birth to the mother.
Science
The first discontinuity is found in months 10 and 11, in which the rate of return to work is significantly higher than in the immediate preceding or following months.
For each step (j>0), we have the partial trajectory (mathcal{T} = [l_{1},ldots,ldots, l_{j-1}]) composed of all the previous steps, with (l_{j-1}) being the immediate precomposedtep.
Science
The motion model p(X k |X k - 1) is conditioned directly on the immediate preceding state and independent of the earlier history if the motion dynamics are assumed to form a temporal Markov chain.
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
38 human-written examples
A proportion of affected LHON carriers (33.7%, n = 66) also reported occupational or accidental toxin exposure in the immediate period preceding visual loss, which included exhaust fumes (n = 16), dry cleaning solvents (n = 13), asbestos (n = 5), lead (n = 4), scrap metals (n = 4) and fibreglass (n = 2), at high levels not encountered in a normal environment.
Science
For the context checks it groups names into names that are either, 'ambiguous', 'unambiguous' or 'popular.' 'Ambiguous' names are only removed if they occur beside a first name or a last name, or if there is an immediate word preceding or following such as 'Dr.', 'Mr.'daughter',r'mother',r'husband'nd', etc.
Small immediate foreshocks and preceding seismic activity in 1999 2000 on the fault plane in the vicinity of the hypocenter of the mainshock of this earthquake were observed.
Science
Theorem (BF): ∀x□φ → □∀xφ Proof: Corollary (BF): ◇∃xφ → ∃x◇φ Proof: Immediate from the preceding theorem, by propositional logic and the definitions of '∃' and '◇'.
Science
It may be that the cardiovascular changes seen with duloxetine 80 mg/day were more likely an immediate response to the preceding dose than a response to steady-state levels of drug.
Science & Research
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Use "immediate preceding" to clearly indicate the item or event that directly comes before the one you are currently discussing. This leaves no room for ambiguity about which item you are referencing.
Common error
Avoid using "immediate preceding" when the items being discussed are not in a clear sequence or order. This can cause confusion if there isn't a well-defined 'before' and 'after'.
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "immediate preceding" functions as a modifier, specifically an adjectival phrase, that qualifies a noun by specifying that it directly follows something in a sequence or order. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its usability in written English.
Frequent in
Science
70%
Encyclopedias
15%
News & Media
15%
Less common in
Formal & Business
0%
Wiki
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, "immediate preceding" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It serves as an adjective phrase to modify nouns, emphasizing the direct sequence or order of elements. While not extremely common, it's frequently found in formal and scientific writing due to its precision and clarity. When alternatives are needed, "directly prior" or "just before" can be used, depending on the context. Remember to use "immediate preceding" when specifying an element directly before another, and avoid its misuse in non-sequential situations.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
directly prior
Focuses on the directness of the temporal relationship, using 'prior' to emphasize the time aspect.
immediately prior to
Adds formality and emphasis to the timing, highlighting the closeness in time.
just before
Simple and straightforward alternative, suitable for informal contexts.
closest preceding
Emphasizes proximity and sequence, useful when discussing ordered elements.
nearest prior
Similar to 'closest preceding' but uses 'prior' to indicate temporal order.
foregoing
Indicates what has just been mentioned or discussed.
antecedent
More formal and concise, referring to something that logically or causally comes before.
previous
A more general term indicating something that came before, without necessarily implying immediacy.
penultimate
Specifically refers to the second to last in a sequence, implying a known end.
latter
Used to refer to the second of two things already mentioned.
FAQs
How can I use "immediate preceding" in a sentence?
You can use "immediate preceding" to specify the element that comes directly before another. For instance, "The current chapter builds upon the concepts introduced in the "immediate preceding" one".
What's a good alternative to "immediate preceding"?
Alternatives include "directly prior", "just before", or "immediately prior to", depending on the formality and context of your writing.
Is it redundant to say "immediate preceding"?
While "preceding" already implies coming before, "immediate" emphasizes that there's nothing in between. The phrase is used for clarity when the direct sequence is important.
When is it best to use "immediate preceding" versus "previous"?
"Immediate preceding" is best when you want to emphasize that there is no intervening element. "Previous" is more general and can refer to something that came before, not necessarily right before. Choose "immediate preceding" when precision is key.
Editing plus AI, all in one place.
Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested