most recent precedent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "most recent precedent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the latest example or case that serves as a guide or rule in a legal or decision-making context. Example: "In this case, the court relied on the most recent precedent to make its ruling."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Correction: October 28, 2000, Saturday An article on Monday about a call by Prime Minister Jean Chretien of Canada for new elections referred incorrectly to the most recent precedent for a candidate's winning three consecutive terms as prime minister.

The New York Times

The Grinnell situation's focus on undergrad workers stands apart from most recent precedent.

Vice

The most recent precedent was Morrison's 2008-09 "Astral Weeks Live" tour in which he revisited his watershed 1968 jazz-pop-rock-soul album.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Here are your most recent precedents for surprisingly placed runners. 1) Cherry Mix 33-1 Given that he was a three-year-old trained by André Fabre, it was probably not clever of us to let Cherry Mix start at such big odds.

The Guardian - Sport

Supreme Court decisions have recognized the authority of Hereditary Chiefs and indigenous title over unceded territories, including the most recent precedent-setting victory by the neighbouring Tsilhqot'in Nation.

Vice

Canadian Supreme Court decisions have recognized the authority of Hereditary Chiefs and indigenous title over unceded territories, including the most recent precedent-setting victory by the neighboring Tsilhqot'in Nation.

Vice

In its most recent relevant precedent, the court ruled unanimously that the Boston St . Patricks Day parade could not be required to include a group marching under a gay-rights banner.

The New York Times

But most of his lineup decisions followed recent precedent.

The Guardian - Sport

Better wines get higher scores and are more expensive.But the most recent round of en primeur trading has set a precedent.

The Economist

Of all the precedents for Donald Trump, perhaps the most instructive is the most recent, that would be that other celebrity-politician, movie star and hormone mutant, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Huffington Post

The precedent for maintaining existing jurisdictional boundaries is found in the two most recent analogous cases before the International Court of Justice (Honduras/Nicaragua/El Salva-dor, 1992, and Guinea-Bissau/Senegal, 1989).

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance conciseness, consider using "latest precedent" if the context already implies recency. However, "most recent precedent" is more emphatic and less prone to misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "most recent precedent" when you intend to express a forecast or anticipation. "Precedent" refers to a past event that guides present decisions, while a prediction is a future-oriented statement. For example, instead of stating, "The most recent precedent suggests the market will crash", use "The current market trends suggest a potential crash".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "most recent precedent" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where "most recent" modifies the noun "precedent". It identifies a specific instance used as a guide or justification in subsequent situations. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "most recent precedent" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to refer to the latest instance serving as a guide or justification. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It frequently appears in news and media contexts and maintains a neutral to formal register. While alternatives like "latest prior example" or "newest previous authority" exist, the original phrase is valuable for its precision and clarity in linking past events to current decisions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

latest prior example

Replaces "recent" with "prior" and "precedent" with "example", emphasizing the temporal aspect and the guiding nature of the instance.

newest previous authority

Substitutes "recent" with "newest" and "precedent" with "authority", highlighting the up-to-dateness and the influential character of the instance.

most current benchmark

Replaces "precedent" with "benchmark", shifting the focus to a standard or point of reference that is presently valid.

latest case in point

Replaces "precedent" with "case in point", emphasizing a specific instance that illustrates a principle or situation.

most up-to-date instance

Replaces "precedent" with "instance", focusing on a particular occurrence that is the newest.

most contemporary guideline

Substitutes "precedent" with "guideline", which refers to a more general rule or recommendation that is currently in effect.

last foregoing instance

Replaces "recent" with "last" and "precedent" with "instance", slightly changing the focus to the final previous case.

ultimate earlier ruling

Replaces "recent" with "ultimate" and "precedent" with "ruling", used in a more formal legal setting.

most immediate predecessor

Uses "predecessor" to indicate the prior event or item that directly influences the current one, applicable in sequential contexts.

present-day parallel

Highlights the similarity to another present-day situation, suggesting a comparison rather than a direct precedent.

FAQs

How can I use "most recent precedent" in a sentence?

You can use "most recent precedent" to refer to the latest example or case that serves as a guide. For instance, "The court's decision was based on the "most recent precedent" set in similar cases.".

What are some alternatives to "most recent precedent"?

Alternatives include "latest prior example", "newest previous authority", or "most current benchmark", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "most recent precedent"?

While "precedent" implies something that has come before, using "most recent" emphasizes that you are referring to the very latest and most relevant case, which can be useful for clarity.

What is the difference between "recent precedent" and "most recent precedent"?

"Recent precedent" refers to any precedent established in the near past, while "most recent precedent" specifically denotes the absolute latest precedent. The latter is more specific.