immediately preceding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "immediately preceding" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to refer to something that happened or existed right before the current moment or event. For example, "The immediately preceding report listed the sales figures for the first quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It remembers only the days immediately preceding the medium-length days, and ignores any older stimuli.

The New York Times - Science

Two novels set there capture the days immediately preceding that fateful 9 November.

The Guardian - Books

There is no logical reason for this, as the shots immediately preceding and after are perfect.

The New York Times - Magazine

In the years immediately preceding the earthquake Haiti's education system barely functioned.

The Guardian

Corbyn chose to drop the words immediately preceding this quote: "I am an agitator".

The Guardian

We know that the generation immediately preceding the Millennials is struggling.

The New York Times

None of those teams had their stretches immediately preceding the World Series.

The New York Times

Immediately preceding "Brown" is "Night Rules," by Billy Aronson, a timely satire of baby-boom parents.

The New York Times

Immediately preceding the 8C in Petersen's chronology is yet another Pininfarina model, the 1991 Cadillac Allante.

The New York Times

The figures in parentheses immediately preceding the wffs are simply for reference.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In the months immediately preceding his death, Vergennes concluded commercial treaties with Great Britain and Russia.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "immediately preceding", ensure clarity by placing it close to the noun it modifies. This helps readers quickly understand the sequence of events.

Common error

Avoid using "immediately preceding" when the temporal relationship isn't truly immediate. Using it loosely can confuse readers about the sequence and timing of events.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "immediately preceding" functions as an adjective modifying a noun, specifying that the noun is the one that comes directly before another in a sequence. This is supported by Ludwig's examples, which show it modifying terms like "days", "letter", and "case".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

15%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "immediately preceding" is a useful adjective phrase for indicating something that comes directly before another thing in time or sequence. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. It is "Very common", often appearing in science, news, and encyclopedia contexts. While grammatically sound and versatile, it's best to ensure that its use accurately reflects a close temporal relationship. For less formal settings, alternatives like "just before" may be more appropriate. Its function is to specify precise temporal context, helping in clarity and avoiding ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

directly before

Replaces "immediately preceding" with a more concise term emphasizing direct temporal succession.

immediately prior

Swaps the order of the words and replaces "before" with "prior", keeping a similar meaning.

just before

Uses a simpler vocabulary to convey the meaning of happening right before something else.

right before

Similar to "just before" but adds a slight emphasis on the proximity in time.

prior to

Employs a more formal register to indicate something coming before in time.

preceding

A shorter, slightly more formal version of the original phrase.

in advance of

Indicates happening before, with a nuance of preparation or anticipation.

antecedent to

Uses a more academic term to denote something that comes before.

leading up to

Describes the period or events that build up to a specific point in time.

in the run-up to

Focuses on the period of time leading up to a particular event.

FAQs

How can I use "immediately preceding" in a sentence?

Use "immediately preceding" to describe an event or item that occurs directly before another. For example, "The chapter "immediately preceding" this one covers similar topics."

What's the difference between ""immediately preceding"" and "following"?

"Immediately preceding" refers to what comes directly before something, while "following" refers to what comes directly after. They indicate opposite temporal positions.

Which is more formal, ""immediately preceding"" or "before"?

"Immediately preceding" tends to be more formal and precise than the simpler term "before", often used in academic or technical contexts.

What can I say instead of ""immediately preceding""?

You can use alternatives like "directly before", "just before", or "prior to" depending on the context.