in preceding times

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in preceding times" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to earlier periods or historical contexts. Example: "In preceding times, people relied heavily on oral traditions to pass down knowledge."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

Wiki

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In this approach, influences on receptors are traced back to individual sources at all locations in preceding times (hence the term backward).

Environmental Health Perspectives

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Among patients with a finding of severe AS, the proportion of patients aged older than 80 years increased to 51.0% in the most recent time period (2010-2012) compared with 32.6% in the preceding time period (P < 0.001 for overall time trend).

Duke University

The show was called the "bright spot for the night" for NBC, considering that The Office was down 18% from the previous year's premiere, while Parks and Recreation, in the preceding time slot, was down 30%.

Wikipedia

We identified cells analyzed in the preceding time-lapse experiment using gridded cover slips.

BMC Biology

From this point, we did a retrospective research in the preceding time period to determine their last cytological examination.

British Journal of Cancer

Deaths in a preceding time segment (e.g., stillbirths) were viewed as competing risks (non-independent) in analyses of death involving succeeding time segments e.g., neonatal death [ 21].

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

The observed behaviour in the preceding time periods (over 3 years) were used to predict the expected prescribing behaviour in the latter 6 month period of the study.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Interval censored regression allows one to account for the fact that in the case of a positive test it was only known that the infection occurred in the preceding time interval since the last negative test.

BMC Infectious Diseases

The number of larvae surviving to the next day is the product of the number of larvae in the preceding time period and the larval survival rate (Equation 2).

BMC Evolutionary Biology

The lags for each of the four health behaviours were elicited from epidemiological and economic modelling experts (see section D of Additional file 1) and were applied so that the full hazard ratio effect was applied after the simulated lag (with reduced hazard ratio effects applied in the preceding time cycles).

BMC Public Health

Table 3 shows that not having a medical check-up in the year preceding time 1 and having multiple colds in that time period increased the likelihood of attendance two-fold.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in preceding times" to create a sense of historical context, contrasting past conditions with the present.

Common error

Avoid using "in preceding times" when referring to recent events; opt for more specific timeframes like "in the past few years" or "previously".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in preceding times" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun, indicating when something occurred relative to the present. Ludwig confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

30%

Academia

25%

News & Media

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "in preceding times" is a grammatically correct phrase used to refer to earlier periods or historical contexts. Ludwig confirms this. While it is relatively rare, it is more commonly found in scientific and academic writing. When a more natural alternative is sought, consider using "in earlier times" or "in past times". Keep in mind that "in preceding times" is better suited for formal contexts when contrasting past conditions with present situations. Avoid using the phrase when referring to recent events, as there are better phrases to use. Finally, although only one exact example was found, the phrase remains valid for use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in times past

A straightforward way to indicate previous periods.

in earlier periods

Emphasizes specific durations rather than general eras.

in former eras

Uses 'eras' to suggest significant historical divisions.

in bygone days

Evokes a sense of nostalgia or a distant past.

in past ages

Highlights long stretches of history, implying antiquity.

in days gone by

Similar to 'bygone days', but slightly more informal.

in olden times

Suggests a very distant, often romanticized past.

in previous years

Focuses on specific years before the present.

in earlier centuries

Refers to specific historical centuries before the present one.

in prior epochs

Uses 'epochs' to signify distinct and extended periods.

FAQs

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

You can use "in preceding times" to refer to earlier periods or historical contexts. For example: "In preceding times, people relied heavily on oral traditions to pass down knowledge."

What's a more common alternative to "in preceding times"?

While "in preceding times" is grammatically correct, alternatives like "in earlier times" or "in past times" might sound more natural to modern ears.

Is there a difference between "in preceding times" and "in recent times"?

"In preceding times" refers to periods further back in history, while "in recent times" indicates a period closer to the present.

Can I use "in preceding times" to describe current trends?

No, "in preceding times" is best used to discuss historical or past situations, not current trends. Use alternatives like "in recent years" or "currently" for contemporary contexts.