just before that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "just before that" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to an action or event that happened immediately prior to some other action or event. For example: "I was about to leave the house when I remembered I had forgotten my keys; just before that, I double-checked to make sure I had turned off the stove."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Arts

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If a student's condition is diagnosed in high school or just before, that tends to raise questions.

The New York Times

If a listed corporation makes an important, market-moving announcement, the regulator will look at trades just before that announcement.

The Guardian - Opinion

But Ian Forth sees a parallel just before that.

The Guardian - Sport

United enjoyed a fine opportunity just before that.

The Guardian - Sport

Flitcroft had drawn a good save from Dean Kiely just before that.

The Guardian - Sport

"He gave the ball away just before that and let everyone else run back.

The Guardian - Sport

Just before that we learned perhaps the most important information about the league.

Forbes

T: Hanging Gardens came out in May of last year and we started just before that.

Vice

She also made the second, but it didn't count because an object was thrown on the court just before that.

Los Angeles Times

Mr. Trump filed his lawsuit just before that deadline.

The New York Times

Just before that, of course, Drogba missed another decent opening.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "just before that" to clearly establish a sequence of events, ensuring the temporal relationship is easily understood by the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "just before that" when the temporal relationship is ambiguous or the sequence isn't immediately clear from the context. Always ensure the "that" refers to a specific, easily identifiable event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "just before that" functions as an adverbial phrase, specifically a temporal adverbial, modifying a clause to indicate when an action or event took place in relation to another. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Sport

25%

Arts

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "just before that" is a common and correct temporal adverbial phrase used to clearly indicate the sequence of events, emphasizing that one event occurred immediately prior to another. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in written English. It is versatile, fitting well in both formal and informal contexts, though it appears most frequently in news and media sources. While alternatives like "immediately preceding that" offer more formal options, "just before that" provides a straightforward way to establish temporal relationships. When using the phrase, ensure the reference point ("that") is clear to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

immediately preceding that

This alternative provides a more formal and emphatic way of indicating that something happened directly before the specified event.

right before that

This phrase is a more casual synonym, carrying the same meaning with a less formal tone.

shortly prior to that

This alternative uses more formal language to convey the idea of something happening a little while before the event in question.

in the moments leading up to that

This expands on the idea to include a period of time, rather than a single moment, before the event.

in the prelude to that

Using "prelude" suggests that the earlier event sets the stage for what follows.

antecedent to that

This is a more formal and somewhat academic way of saying 'before'.

on the heels of that

This implies that the events are closely linked and follow each other rapidly.

the instant before that

This phrase suggests an immediacy and lack of time between the two events.

in anticipation of that

This alternative highlights that something was done expecting "that" event to happen.

preparatory to that

Similar to "in anticipation of that", but this one is mostly used in a more planned context.

FAQs

How can I use "just before that" in a sentence?

You can use "just before that" to indicate an action or event that occurred immediately prior to another. For example: "The alarm went off; "just before that", I was dreaming peacefully."

What phrases are similar to "just before that"?

Similar phrases include "immediately preceding that", "right before that", or "shortly prior to that".

Is "just before that" formal or informal?

"Just before that" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives exist.

What's the difference between "just before that" and "before that"?

"Just before that" implies a very short time interval between the two events, whereas "before that" is more general and can refer to a longer period.