immediately prior to

USAGE SUMMARY

"immediately prior to" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that happened just before another event. For example, "The meeting was held immediately prior to the presentation."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

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

This evaluation examines the two years immediately prior to intervention.

Contemporary Clinical Trials

All solutions were degassed immediately prior to use.

Chemistry Central Journal

Attendees were consented immediately prior to the training session.

Health & Justice

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

[11C]-PBR28 [11C]-PBR28ised on site immediately prior to use according to local guidelines and regulations.

EJNMMI Research

The patients were orally hydrated, and they voided their bladders immediately prior to undergoing WB-BS.

EJNMMI Research

It should be noted that samples were taken for analysis immediately prior to algae harvesting.

Applied Petrochemical Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "immediately prior to" to clearly establish a sequence of events, ensuring the timing is unambiguous. For example, "The software update should be installed immediately prior to the system restart."

Common error

While grammatically correct, using "immediately prior to" in very casual settings can sound overly formal. Opt for simpler alternatives like "right before" or "just before" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "immediately prior to" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or verb, indicating the timing of an event. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically sound and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

74%

News & Media

12%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "immediately prior to" is a grammatically correct and commonly used prepositional phrase that indicates an event occurred very shortly before another. Ludwig AI validates its widespread acceptance and utility across various domains. While primarily found in formal and scientific writing, it can be used in other contexts where precise timing is essential. Alternatives like "just before" or "right before" may be more appropriate for informal settings. Remember to use "immediately prior to" to ensure clarity when specifying the sequence of events and avoid overuse in casual conversation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Just before

This alternative is a more concise and informal way to express the same temporal relationship.

Right before

This alternative emphasizes the closeness in time between the two events.

Immediately preceding

This is a more formal and slightly more technical alternative.

Directly before

This emphasizes the direct temporal sequence without any intervening events.

In the moments before

This alternative highlights the very short time frame before the event.

On the verge of

This alternative implies that the subsequent event is imminent.

At the point just before

This alternative provides a more detailed description of the timing.

Leading up to

This focuses on the period of time that precedes the event, rather than the precise moment.

In anticipation of

This alternative suggests an expectation or preparation for the event that follows.

Preceding by a short time

This is a more descriptive and less direct alternative.

FAQs

What does "immediately prior to" mean?

The phrase "immediately prior to" means happening or being done just before something else. It emphasizes a very short time interval between two events.

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

You can use "immediately prior to" to specify the timing of an action in relation to another. For example, "The data was collected "just prior to" the experiment."

What are some alternatives to "immediately prior to"?

Alternatives include "just before", "right before", or "directly before", depending on the level of formality and the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "immediately prior to" or "right before"?

While both are correct, "immediately prior to" is more formal and often used in technical or academic writing. "Right before" is more common in everyday conversation and informal writing. Choose the phrase that best suits the context and audience.