in its previous form

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in its previous form" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that has changed since the time before. For example, "The law was amended in its previous form last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

If it still existed in its previous form, it would have brought in roughly the same amount of revenue this fiscal year — about six billion dollars — as the state will get from Brown's tax hikes, according to Gabriel Petek, a Standard & Poor's analyst who has covered California for years.

The New Yorker

In that respect, the last quotation that Hosking provides, from Putin — "He who does not regret the break-up of the Soviet Union has no heart; he who wants to revive it in its previous form has no head" — is not reassuring.

The New York Times - Books

It is folly to believe mass manufacturing in its previous form, and at anything close to its previous scale, can return.

The Guardian - Opinion

The case for spending this much money is that it was ultimately unavoidable, as the station in its previous form would have eventually ceased to function, and that changing a fully functioning, Grade I-listed terminus is expensive.

The Guardian - Arts

The case for spending this much money is that it was ultimately unavoidable, as the station in its previous form would have eventually ceased to function, and that changing a fully functioning, Grade I-listed terminus is expensive.

The Guardian - Arts

For all practical purposes the regime in its previous form has ended.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

In its previous forms, it also capped the overall cost of the program.

Huffington Post

The Indian Government argued that Novartis' patent application for Glivec should be rejected because the modified version of the drug did not exemplify a significant change in therapeutic effectiveness over its previous form [ 10].

Globalization and Health

This may explain why the virus often mutates back to its previous form in newly infected people.

eLife

Southam has since changed hands two more times and no longer exists in its previous corporate form.

The New York Times

Nathan Rabin of The A.V. Club noted a general decline in the show's quality in the fourth season, and after a return to form in its previous episode, "Dealbreakers Talk Show #0001", he found "Secret Santa" disappointing, and gave it a grade B−. "It was cute and nicely plotted", he wrote "but it felt a little rote and familiar".

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in its previous form" to clearly contrast a current state with a prior one, providing context for understanding a change or transformation.

Common error

Avoid using "in its previous form" when you actually mean "in its original form". 'Previous' implies a series of changes, while 'original' refers to the very first state.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in its previous form" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically modifying a noun or verb to provide information about the state or condition of something at an earlier time. This is supported by Ludwig AI, which confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

13%

Less common in

Wiki

13%

Formal & Business

7%

Academia

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in its previous form" is a common and grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to contrast a past state with a current one. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it serves to highlight changes or transformations. It appears frequently in news and media, science, and encyclopedic contexts, indicating a neutral register suitable for diverse audiences. When using this phrase, ensure you're accurately distinguishing between 'previous' and 'original' states, and remember the correct possessive form is "its", without an apostrophe. Alternatives such as "in its former state" or "as it used to be" can provide similar meaning with slight variations in tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in its former state

Replaces 'previous form' with 'former state', emphasizing a past condition.

as it used to be

Uses a more conversational tone to indicate a past condition.

in its original condition

Focuses on the initial state or condition of something.

in its earlier iteration

Uses 'iteration' to specify a prior version or stage.

in its prior incarnation

Emphasizes a past existence or manifestation.

in its past configuration

Highlights the arrangement or setup in the past.

in its then-current state

Uses 'then-current' to refer to the state at a specific past time.

as it existed before

A more explicit way of saying something was different in the past.

in its pre-existing structure

Emphasizes the arrangement that was in place before a change.

formerly

A single-word adverb indicating a past state.

FAQs

How can I use "in its previous form" in a sentence?

You can use "in its previous form" to describe something that has undergone a change. For example, "The organization, /s/in+its+previous+form, operated with a much smaller budget".

What is a good alternative to "in its previous form"?

Alternatives include "in its former state", "as it used to be", or "in its original condition", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "in its previous form" and "in its current form"?

"In its previous form" refers to a past state, while "in its current form" refers to the present state. They are used to contrast how something was versus how it is now.

Is it correct to say "in it's previous form"?

No, it is incorrect. The correct possessive form of 'it' is "its", without an apostrophe. "It's" is a contraction of 'it is' or 'it has'.