past occasion

USAGE SUMMARY

"past occasion" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to refer to a specific event or instance that has already happened. For example: "On a past occasion, we discussed the importance of teamwork." Alternative expressions include "previous event" and "former instance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

But Quentin remembers Frank's "surprised embarrassment" when he discovered – after his computer had been carefully dismantled – "that the reason he could no longer push a CD into the CD-drive was that on some distant past occasion he had pushed a 5.25 floppy disk into the same slot".

The Guardian - Books

Using self-reported 'urban or rural' residence at the time of the survey and at a past occasion, the four-level urbanisation variable captures perceived urbanisation, and is unique in allowing comparison of ruralites to urbanites as well as comparison to urbanisers and de-urbanisers.

Global Health Action

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

But as on past occasions, Mr. Ivanov was not buying.

The New York Times

At Governors Ball they avoided the self-destructive rants of past occasions.

The New York Times - Arts

For the clincher, Mr. Duffee said, look back at past occasions when trading volume rose sharply.

The New York Times

On past occasions The Economist has sometimes joined in with American elections and stated its preference; and it has sometimes opted out.

The Economist

– 15 August, Youngstown, Ohio Unlike the many past occasions Trump has lied about opposition to the Iraq war "from the beginning", in Youngstown he tried to provide evidence.

The Guardian

Doctorow here appears not so much a reconstructor of history as a visionary who seeks in time past occasions for poetry.

The New Yorker

But a little weird, no? "Parties in stores are always weird," she said, bringing up past occasions at Bendel's and at Bergdorf Goodman's.

The New York Times

Matas pointed to past occasions when the actions of armed Basque separatist group Eta were a mainstay of Spanish election campaigns.

The Guardian

In offering up a more inclusive version of Republicanism than many of the others, and sounding more confident than on past occasions, he had his best night of the campaign.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "past occasion", ensure it clearly refers to a specific event or instance that has already taken place. Avoid ambiguity by providing sufficient context.

Common error

Avoid using "past occasion" with other redundant qualifiers like "previous" or "earlier" as it can make the sentence unnecessarily wordy. Choose the most concise option.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "past occasion" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as an adverbial modifier to specify when something occurred. It indicates that an event or situation took place at some point before the present moment. As shown by Ludwig, this construction is accepted and used in a variety of contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "past occasion" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to refer to a prior event or instance. While considered rare in overall frequency, according to Ludwig, it appears most commonly in News & Media and Scientific contexts. It serves to provide temporal context, drawing comparisons or highlighting changes from a specific point in time. When using this phrase, ensure clarity and avoid redundant qualifiers for the most effective communication. Alternatives like "previous instance" or "earlier event" can be considered depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on a previous instance

Similar to the original, but rephrased for emphasis.

previous instance

Replaces 'occasion' with 'instance', emphasizing a specific occurrence.

earlier event

Substitutes 'past' with 'earlier' and 'occasion' with 'event', focusing on the timing of something.

prior occurrence

Uses more formal vocabulary to denote a previous event.

former situation

Shifts the focus to the circumstances surrounding a past event.

historical instance

Highlights that the instance happened in the past.

bygone event

Implies that the event is long past and perhaps no longer relevant.

in the past

General expression indicating something happened at some unspecified point before now.

in a former time

This alternative shifts the focus to a different period in time.

in days gone by

Evokes a sense of nostalgia or remoteness in the past.

FAQs

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

"Past occasion" is used to refer to an event that happened before the present. For example, "On a "past occasion", we discussed this matter in detail."

What are some alternatives to "past occasion"?

Alternatives include "previous instance", "earlier event", or "prior occurrence". The choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is it redundant to say "previous past occasion"?

Yes, saying "previous "past occasion"" is generally redundant because "past" already implies that the occasion happened before the present. It's better to simply use "past occasion" or "previous occasion".

What is the difference between "past occasion" and "former occasion"?

While both refer to something that happened before, "former occasion" often implies a situation that is no longer relevant or has been replaced. "Past occasion" is a more general term for any event that has already occurred.