immediately previous

USAGE SUMMARY

"immediately previous" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that happened or was mentioned before the current moment in time. For example, "The immediately previous statement was incorrect."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

Indeed, Mr. Whalen said his figures show more stress in the banking industry in the second quarter of 2009 than in the immediately previous periods.

The New York Times

Revenue growth of 61percentt year over year, and 16percentt over the immediately previous quarter, "are tremendous numbers for a company this size," he said.

The New York Times

Under the immediately previous owner, a Danish banking institution called Unibank, "floors used to sit vacant for months at a time, which is surprising given its excellent location," said Richard A. C. Coles, a senior vice president of Emmes.

The New York Times

However, by (A3) we consider that (i) relies instead on the contribution of (j) at the immediately previous period.

SERIEs

The best results were obtained using a four-layer back-propagation network with each layer connected to the immediately previous layer.

Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research

Regarding to the minimum period of contributions, entitlement to an old age pension requires at least 15 years of contributions, two of them within the 15 years immediately previous to the time of becoming eligible to the benefit.

SERIEs

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

Mrs. Dinkel said that some of the rental houses still on the market had been snatched up immediately in previous years.

The New York Times

In his report, Ramos said he recognized Thomas immediately from previous encounters.

Los Angeles Times

When pandemic influenza occurs in the future, it will be important to distribute up-to-date information regarding the pathogenicity of the virus immediately and previous experience of influenza H1N1 (2009) should not be an inhibiting factor.

BMC Public Health

Mr. Sgarbi took office and immediately described the previous government's project as "disgusting".

The New York Times

Sales also rose and spiked before and immediately after the previous deadline, last fall, only to decline again through the winter.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, consider rephrasing if the context allows, especially in less formal writing. Alternatives like "just before" or "the prior one" may suffice without sacrificing meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "immediately previous" in casual conversation or informal writing where simpler alternatives like "just before" or "right before" would sound more natural. Overly formal language can sometimes detract from clarity and readability in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "immediately previous" functions as an adjectival modifier, specifying which particular instance of something that occurred previously is being referenced. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriate usage in a variety of contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

28%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "immediately previous" is a grammatically correct and frequently used adjectival modifier that serves to specify the exact prior item or event in a sequence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is most commonly found in scientific and news contexts, with a neutral to formal register. When writing, consider whether a simpler alternative like "just before" would suffice for better readability in less formal settings. Understanding its specific function and appropriate context will ensure clear and effective communication. Be also aware that alternative phrases exist such as "directly preceding" or "just before".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

directly preceding

Emphasizes the directness of the sequence, similar to 'immediately' but with a focus on order.

the immediately prior

Swaps the position of 'previous' and 'prior' for a slightly different emphasis.

the preceding

A more formal and concise way of saying 'immediately previous'.

just before

A simpler, more informal way to indicate the immediately preceding event or item.

the prior one

Replaces 'previous' with 'prior' and uses 'one' to refer to the antecedent.

the last

A simple and common way to refer to the immediately previous item.

the instant before

Highlights the temporal proximity, emphasizing the short time interval.

the foregoing

A more formal alternative, often used in legal or academic writing.

the immediately antecedent

Uses 'antecedent' to refer to what comes before, adding a formal tone.

the directly antecedent

It has the same meaning as immediately antecedent but without repeating 'immediately'.

FAQs

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

Use "immediately previous" to indicate that something directly precedes another. For example, "The data from the immediately previous quarter showed a decline in sales."

What are some alternatives to "immediately previous"?

You can use alternatives such as "directly preceding", "just before", or "the prior one" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "immediately previous" and "previous"?

"Immediately previous" emphasizes that there is nothing in between the two events or items, whereas "previous" simply indicates something that came before, without necessarily implying direct succession.

When is it appropriate to use "immediately previous" instead of "previous"?

Use "immediately previous" when the sequence is important and you want to highlight the direct connection between two consecutive items or events. If the sequence is not that important, just "previous" is ok.