in previous times

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in previous times" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to times in the past, typically before the present or recent past. For example, "In previous times, people traveled by horse and buggy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

This would have been unthinkable in previous times.

The New York Times

In previous times I would just ruminate and descend into something much deeper.

The Guardian - Sport

In previous times geography and risk would have made this economically unfeasible.

The Economist

In previous times, the Oji-Cree lifestyle required daily workouts that rivalled those of a professional athlete.

The New Yorker

Women had voted in their first presidential election in 1920, and many more were college graduates than in previous times.

The New York Times

"In previous times, the fighters would confront and throw themselves at Israeli attacks," said one man close to Hamas who declined to be identified further.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

The scheduling procedure utilises the SINRs from transmissions in previous time slots.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Coding operations will be based on messages received in previous time slots only.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

The time-inverse problem means that, from the final data, the main goal is a reconstruction of the whole structure in previous time.

Boundary Value Problems

It should be noted that the range of slope values is smaller than in previous time periods, due to the longer duration of the time series.

Journal of Applied Volcanology

It is evident that significant performance gains can be obtained by using Kalman smoothing which takes blocks in previous time-slots into account.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in previous times" to draw a contrast between past conditions and the present, emphasizing change over time.

Common error

Avoid using "in previous times" when referring to very recent past events; it implies a more significant historical distance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in previous times" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by specifying when something occurred. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is commonly used to contrast past conditions with present ones.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

26%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "in previous times" is a common and correct way to refer to earlier periods, often to draw a contrast with the present. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use. While versatile, it's best suited for situations where a significant historical distance is implied, as can be seen from the multitude of examples provided. When a more formal tone is required, alternatives such as "formerly" may be preferable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in former times

Very similar, slightly more formal.

in the past

A simple and direct alternative, lacking the specific temporal depth.

in earlier periods

Emphasizes a specific, definable time before the present.

in earlier days

Emphasizes a more distant past, often with nostalgic undertones.

formerly

A more concise and formal way to indicate a past state or condition.

in days gone by

Implies a sense of nostalgia or a gentle passing of time.

in bygone eras

Highlights a period long past, often associated with historical or cultural shifts.

in olden times

Suggests a more archaic or traditional setting.

in antiquity

Refers specifically to ancient historical periods.

heretofore

A formal and somewhat archaic term meaning 'until now'.

FAQs

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

You can use "in previous times" to contrast past conditions with the present. For example, "In previous times, travel was much slower than it is today".

What is a more formal alternative to "in previous times"?

A more formal alternative would be "formerly", which concisely indicates a past state or condition.

How does "in previous times" differ from "in the past"?

"In the past" is a general term, while "in previous times" suggests a more specific or distant historical period.

When is it inappropriate to use "in previous times"?

It's best to avoid "in previous times" when referring to very recent past events; it implies a longer historical perspective.