not long before

USAGE SUMMARY

"not long before" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is generally used to refer to a time that was relatively recent in the past. For example, "I met her not long before she moved to New York."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Not long before, during construction, the shelter had collapsed.

The Guardian - Travel

It was not long before it leaked.

Independent

His parents had divorced not long before.

The Guardian - Books

They reconciled not long before John's death.

The Guardian

His father had died not long before.

The Guardian - Books

It had seemed impossible not long before.

The Guardian - Sport

Not long before Christmas, Todd Bates drowned.

The New York Times - Sports

Thompson learned of King's death not long before walking onstage.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

She checked her watch not long before 3 p.m.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

It was not long before the children were being exhibited.

The New Yorker

Cleomenes' own career ended in disgrace not long before Marathon.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not long before" to establish a clear sequence of events, indicating that one event happened shortly before another. For example, "The rain started not long before the game was cancelled."

Common error

Avoid using "not long before" with future tenses. The phrase refers to the past. Instead of saying "He will arrive not long before the meeting starts", say "He arrived not long before the meeting started" or "He is expected to arrive shortly before the meeting starts".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not long before" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying when an event occurred in relation to another, earlier event. It indicates a short duration between the two events, establishing a temporal sequence. Ludwig confirms this is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "not long before" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to indicate that an event occurred a short time prior to another. It's grammatically sound and commonly found across various contexts, including news, academia, and general narratives. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. When writing, be mindful of using the correct tense and consider related phrases to add nuance to your expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just before

Highlights the immediate proximity in time.

a short time before

Specifies the duration more explicitly.

shortly prior to

Emphasizes the brief interval preceding an event; more formal.

soon before that

Uses "soon" to convey immediacy, adds a pronoun.

immediately preceding

More formal, highlighting the direct temporal sequence.

in the period leading up to

Focuses on the process or events leading to a specific moment.

leading up to

Suggests a progression toward a specific time.

not far ahead of

Emphasizes the close proximity in a forward-moving temporal sense.

on the verge of

Indicates being very close to the start of something.

in anticipation of

Highlights expectation and preparation for an event.

FAQs

How can I use "not long before" in a sentence?

Use "not long before" to indicate that an event occurred a short time prior to another event. For instance, "She finished her work not long before the deadline".

What are some alternatives to saying "not long before"?

You can use alternatives such as "shortly prior to", "just before", or "a short time before" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "no long before" instead of "not long before"?

No, "no long before" is not grammatically correct. The correct phrase is "not long before", which means a short time prior to a specific event or time.

What's the difference between "not long before" and "not long after"?

"Not long before" indicates a time preceding an event, while "not long after" indicates a time following an event. They are opposites in terms of temporal sequence.