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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
inform previously
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "inform previously" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It could be used in contexts where you want to indicate that someone was informed at an earlier time, but it is better to use more standard expressions. Example: "I wanted to ensure that you were informed previously about the changes to the schedule."
Science
News & Media
Wiki
Alternative expressions(20)
briefed ahead of time
pre-inform
informed beforehand
advise beforehand
let know ahead of time
inform prior
let know beforehand
provide beforehand
had been informed
inform forward
provide prior notice
notice beforehand
notify in advance
previously informed
advise ahead of time
previously notified
notified ahead of time
let someone know beforehand
notice ahead of time
informed ahead of time
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
1 human-written examples
Finally, our use of novel strategies to overcome limitations (e.g., immortal person time in assessments of early versus later dialysis initiation) of prior studies may help to better inform previously unanswered questions in ESRD care.
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
58 human-written examples
Physicians disclosing such information must do so cautiously, however, because it is possible that surrogates may respond to such information with anger or resentment at not having been informed previously by the patients.
Science
The patient has to be informed previously concerning the possible restrictions in hand function and the chance on finger amputation.
We did not know how the patients were informed previously to their admission in our department.
Science
The participants had been informed previously about the study, but this meeting was the first time they were presented with statistical findings from each municipality.
Science
And yet we give a whole category of Nobels to theoretical physicists, who use the deductive power of mathematics (yes, of course, informed by previously available empirical evidence) to do just that.
News & Media
The song's contagion was partly responsible for inspiring another meme of spring 2014, SNL's now-infamous "Turned Up To Death," as well as informing a previously under-educated swatch of the population about how this generation gets turnt (or at least talks about it). .
News & Media
When Michael awoke that morning, he discovered not only that his brother had abdicated in his favour, as Nicholas had not informed him previously, but also that a delegation from the Duma would visit him at Putyatina's apartment in a few hours time.
Wiki
The model structure was informed by previously reported research [ 9].
Based on the results we developed a four-page questionnaire, informed by previously used massage therapist questionnaires [ 5- 8].
The parameters relating to the Inverse-Gamma part of the joint density can be informed by previously reported estimates, or simply chosen so that a reasonable range of σ –values are represented by the algorithm.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When aiming for clarity, consider using more common alternatives such as "notify beforehand" or "advise in advance" instead of "inform previously". These options are generally more readily understood and sound more natural.
Common error
Avoid using "inform previously" in formal writing, as it can sound stilted or unnatural. Opt for more conventional phrases to ensure your message is clear and professional.
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
3.2/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "inform previously" functions as a verb phrase where "inform" is the verb and "previously" acts as an adverb modifying the verb. Ludwig AI shows that this phrase is not commonly used, suggesting it's not a standard construction.
Frequent in
Science
44%
News & Media
44%
Wiki
12%
Less common in
Formal & Business
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Social Media
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, while the phrase "inform previously" is grammatically acceptable, it's not a common or particularly natural way to express the idea of providing information at an earlier time. As Ludwig AI notes, it may sound awkward. More conventional alternatives such as "previously informed", ""notify beforehand"", or "advise in advance" are generally preferred for clarity and a more polished tone. Its infrequent usage and the existence of better alternatives contribute to its lower expert rating, advising writers to opt for more common phrasings.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
notify beforehand
Replaces "inform" with "notify" and "previously" with "beforehand", offering a more concise and direct alternative.
advise in advance
Substitutes "inform" with "advise" and "previously" with "in advance", providing a slightly more formal tone.
let know ahead of time
Uses a more informal phrasing, replacing "inform" with "let know" and "previously" with "ahead of time".
apprise earlier
Offers a more formal alternative, using "apprise" instead of "inform" while keeping a similar structure.
update at an earlier date
Focuses on the act of updating information, replacing "inform" with "update" and specifying "at an earlier date".
tell before
Simplifies the phrasing to its most basic components, using "tell" instead of "inform" and "before" instead of "previously".
disclose ahead
Suggests revealing information, using "disclose" as a replacement for "inform" and "ahead" for "previously".
brief in advance
Implies providing a summary of information, replacing "inform" with "brief" and "previously" with "in advance".
acquaint beforehand
Uses a more formal and less common word, "acquaint", to replace "inform" while maintaining a similar meaning.
pre-inform
Uses a prefix to modify "inform", creating a more concise but slightly less natural phrasing.
FAQs
How can I use "inform previously" in a sentence?
While grammatically acceptable, "inform previously" isn't the most common phrase. A better alternative might be "We wanted to "notify beforehand" to give ample preparation time".
What is a more common alternative to "inform previously"?
Consider alternatives like "advise in advance", "previously notified", or "let know ahead of time", depending on the level of formality needed.
Is it wrong to say "inform previously"?
It is not grammatically incorrect, but it sounds somewhat awkward. There are more natural and common ways to express the same idea, such as "previously informed" or "had been informed".
What's the difference between "inform previously" and "previously informed"?
"Inform previously" is an active construction that is less common and can sound awkward. "Previously informed" is a passive construction and is more widely accepted and sounds more natural in most contexts.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
3.2/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested