past correspondence

USAGE SUMMARY

"past correspondence" is a correct and usable term in written English.
It is used to refer to any communication from the past, such as letters, emails, memos, etc. For example, "I found the answer to our problems in the past correspondence between our two companies."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

When you've accessed your inbox, you'll want to find any past correspondence you've had with this friend.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

When work was slow, you could sift through the treasure trove of his past digital correspondence.

The New Yorker

Some people, not familiar with Welsh forenames, have addressed me as "Sir" in the past (in correspondence - not to my face, fortunately).

The Guardian - Books

As was demonstrated in past research correspondence analysis is a useful tool for researchers examining prescription medication data [ 25].

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Wharton had requested that her letters be destroyed, but Bahlmann's family ignored her wishes and, for the past ninety years, their correspondence sat in storage.

The New Yorker

Suddenly the cost of insurance reached levels that bore no correspondence to past behavior.

Forbes

Results indicate that the MTSFG shows a mean decreasing trend of 7.4 cm/10a in the past 55 years in correspondence to the significantly increasing air temperature (0.34 °C/10a).

Journal of Hydrology

Third, subject head sizes were smaller than those in past studies of the correspondence between NIRS channels and locations.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

In the past, noted authors left behind correspondence and journals that gave historians hints and insights into literary grudges, artistic process and writerly anxiety.

The New York Times

Ms. Hirshler, a Sargent scholar, said that while people at the Museum of Fine Arts might have been aware of the correspondence in decades past, it was a great surprise to her to come across it in the collection's archives, especially now.

The New York Times - Arts

A number of freedom of information requests submitted by the Guardian revealed that at least five district judges have received threatening correspondence in the past year related to hearings they have presided over.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to "past correspondence", specify the type of correspondence if it adds clarity (e.g. "email correspondence", "letter correspondence").

Common error

Avoid using "past correspondence" when the context requires a more specific term. For instance, if you are discussing legal documents, it's better to say "archived legal documents" than "past correspondence".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "past correspondence" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. It identifies a body of communications that occurred at some point before the present.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "past correspondence" is a grammatically sound noun phrase used to denote communications from a previous time. While Ludwig indicates it's a valid and correct term, its frequency is relatively rare. The phrase finds its applications across diverse contexts like news, science, and general information, offering a neutral tone suitable for professional use. To enhance clarity, specifying the nature of correspondence is advisable. Related phrases include "previous communications" and "archived communications". Remember to avoid overgeneralizing and consider more precise terms depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previous communications

Replaces "correspondence" with a more general term, focusing on any form of communication.

former communications

A more direct substitution of "past" with "former", indicating a previous state.

prior written exchanges

Specifies that the communications were written and occurred before the present time.

old letters and emails

Breaks down "correspondence" into specific types of written communication.

historical correspondence

Emphasizes that the correspondence is part of the history.

earlier letters

Simplifies the phrase to focus specifically on letters from a previous time.

archived communications

Highlights that the correspondence has been stored for future reference.

records of communication

Shifts the focus to the documentation or recordings of past exchanges.

historical written exchanges

Combines "historical" and "written exchanges" to emphasize the record of past communication.

long-ago letters

Informal phrasing, emphasizes a time long ago.

FAQs

How can I use "past correspondence" in a sentence?

You might say, "I reviewed the "past correspondence" to understand the history of the agreement."

What's a more formal alternative to "past correspondence"?

A more formal alternative could be "prior communications" or "archived records".

What does "past correspondence" typically include?

"Past correspondence" can include various forms of written communication, such as letters, emails, memos, and notes.

Is "previous correspondence" the same as "past correspondence"?

Yes, "previous correspondence" is generally interchangeable with "past correspondence" and carries the same meaning.