numerous prior

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "numerous prior" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an incomplete expression and lacks clarity without additional context. An example could be: "There have been numerous prior instances of this issue occurring."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

"We see numerous prior assaults," Mr. Dankner said.

The New York Times

The current pause is consistent with numerous prior pauses.

The New York Times

Officers have already made numerous prior arrests as part of the long-running investigation into activities of the organisation at its office in Slough, Berkshire.

The Guardian

There have been numerous prior efforts to convert ICD codes into measures of injury severity.

Injury Epidemiology

While numerous prior studies focused on performance and energy optimizations for caches, their interactions have received much less attention.

Microprocessors and Microsystems

Numerous prior experimental observations have shown that failure possibility is increased with tensile stress at the interfaces (Lloyd and Clement 1995).

Mechanics of Advanced Materials and Modern Processes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

In Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, engineering students are expected to deliver technical oral presentations on numerous occasions prior to graduation.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

Though I had read numerous novels prior to last June, there were of course many more I had missed.

Huffington Post

"Telephone" has been appreciated by critics as being a standout track from The Fame Monster, and charted in numerous countries prior to its release as a single.

Wikipedia

The number of starts might not have been as numerous, but prior to the November 23 game, Mason was hit in the head by a shot from Rick Nash during pre-game warm-ups and suffered a concussion.

Wikipedia

In fact, unlike the ACA which has never enjoyed majority support and has been albatross to Democrats -- helping spur the creation of the Tea Party and leading the Republican Congressional landslide of 2010 -- numerous polls prior to the passage of Obamacare showed a majority of Americans supporting Medicare For All.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity and grammatical correctness, expand "numerous prior" to include what it modifies. For example, "numerous prior studies" or "numerous prior attempts" is more complete.

Common error

Avoid using "numerous prior" without specifying what you are referring to. Saying "there were numerous prior" is incomplete; specify "numerous prior incidents", "numerous prior occasions", or similar.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "numerous prior" functions as a modifier, typically preceding a noun to indicate a large quantity of something that happened or existed before. As Ludwig AI pointed out, it is incomplete, and usually needs to be followed by a noun.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

28%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "numerous prior" is commonly used, particularly in scientific and news contexts, to refer to a large number of previous occurrences. As Ludwig AI pointed out, standard written English benefits from including a noun to clarify what is being modified. While examples abound, expanding the phrase (e.g., "numerous prior studies", "numerous prior attempts") is grammatically clearer. Alternative phrases like "many previous" or "several earlier" can also enhance clarity. Therefore, while widespread, the phrase's effectiveness increases with additional context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

many previous

A more concise and commonly accepted alternative, emphasizing a past occurrence in abundance.

several earlier

Similar to "many previous", but implies a smaller quantity.

many preceding

A formal alternative suggesting a substantial quantity before a specific point.

multiple former

Focuses on the multiplicity of past events or instances.

various earlier

Suggests a variety of instances in the past.

a number of earlier

Specifies a certain quantity of previous occurrences.

several past

A simpler way to convey previous events, emphasizing the past aspect.

multiple existing

Indicates several instances already present.

numerous existing

Maintains the "numerous" quantity, but refers to the present existence of something.

many instances before

Emphasizes the number of times something happened earlier.

FAQs

What does "numerous prior" mean?

The phrase "numerous prior" refers to many instances or events that occurred before a certain point in time. It is often used to describe previous studies, attempts, or occurrences.

How can I use "numerous prior" in a sentence?

While "numerous prior" is frequently used, it often requires a noun to complete the meaning. For example, "numerous prior studies have shown..." or "numerous prior attempts have failed...".

What can I say instead of "numerous prior"?

You can use alternatives like "many previous", "several earlier", or "multiple former" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "numerous previous" or "numerous prior"?

While both are used, "numerous previous" is generally considered more grammatically sound and easier to understand. "Numerous prior" often benefits from being followed by a noun to provide context, for example, "numerous prior examples".