immediately prior

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'immediately prior' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe something that occurred immediately before a particular point in time. For example, "My car broke down immediately prior to arriving at the destination."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This evaluation examines the two years immediately prior to intervention.

Contemporary Clinical Trials

Day 0 samples were collected immediately prior to infection.

Nature

The NOC will be notified immediately prior to the restart.

Cornell University

Elements we interpret as romantically fatalistic must have seemed unbearably portentous immediately prior to the war.

The Guardian - Film

And that point occurred immediately prior to the public disclosure on Aug. 2".

The New York Times

Furthermore, exercise performed immediately prior to a visual perceptual learning task may impair learning.

Vision Research

Treatments with eicosanoid-biosynthesis inhibitors immediately prior to LPS challenge sharply reduced the microaggregation responses.

Journal of Insect Physiology

Disadvantages include possible performance penalties caused by extra circuitry immediately prior to device output buffers.

Building a Successful Board-Test Strategy

Samples of saliva were collected for cortisol determination immediately prior and after the experimental session.

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

I used a dedicated word processor in business and bought a PC immediately prior to retirement.

The New York Times

DEGMA and OEGMA500 were passed over basic alumina to remove inhibitors immediately prior to use.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "immediately prior" to clearly indicate the sequence of events, especially when the timing is critical. For example, 'The data was analyzed immediately prior to the presentation' emphasizes the data analysis happened in the hours/minutes before, so it can impact the presentation result.

Common error

Avoid using "immediately prior" when a less specific term like "before" or "previously" would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound stilted. Make sure that the immediacy is relevant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "immediately prior" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the timing of an action. Ludwig confirms that it indicates an action occurring right before another. It specifies when something happens in relation to another event.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

25%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "immediately prior" is a grammatically correct and versatile adverbial phrase used to denote that an event occurred very shortly before another. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is very common across various domains, including science, news, and academia, but is also used in professional settings where precise timing is important. While the phrase is widely accepted, remember to use it when the immediacy of the timing is critical to avoid sounding stilted. Consider alternatives like "just before" or "directly before" for simpler contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

directly before

Uses 'directly' instead of 'immediately', implying a straightforward temporal sequence with no intervening events.

just before

Replaces 'immediately prior' with a simpler, more informal expression indicating a short time before.

right before

Similar to 'just before' but with a slightly stronger sense of immediacy.

immediately preceding

Uses the participle 'preceding' for a more formal tone while retaining the sense of 'immediately'.

in the moments before

Emphasizes the brevity of the time interval before the event.

on the verge of

Implies that something is about to happen very soon, focusing on the imminence of the subsequent event.

at the point just before

Adds a sense of pinpointing the exact moment before something occurs.

in the lead-up to

Suggests a period of preparation or anticipation culminating in the subsequent event.

on the eve of

More formal and literary, implying a significant event is about to happen.

antecedent to

Formal and somewhat archaic, indicating something that logically or causally precedes another event.

FAQs

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

Use "immediately prior" to specify that something happened in the very short term before something else. For instance, "The software was tested "immediately prior" to its release".

What's a simpler way to say "immediately prior"?

Alternatives to "immediately prior" include "just before", "right before", or "directly before", depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "immediately prior" and "immediately before"?

While both phrases are similar, "immediately prior" is slightly more formal. "Immediately before" is often preferred in more casual contexts, although either is acceptable.

When should I avoid using "immediately prior"?

Avoid using "immediately prior" when the timing is not critical or when a simpler term like "before" or "previously" would be more appropriate.