picked in advance

USAGE SUMMARY

"picked in advance" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to something that has been selected beforehand. Example: The items were picked in advance to ensure availability. Alternative expressions include "selected beforehand" and "chosen ahead of time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

It was a great story to complete the evening, when the races and winners might easily have been picked in advance by Meydan's marketing department.

The Guardian - Sport

So we'll hand this one over to reader Steve Williams: "This was always a potential problem in the 70s and 80s when Match of the Day could only show action from two matches, picked in advance, and if they were both rubbish it was tough luck.

The Guardian - Sport

For dataset of mTRPML1 amphipols, ~4,000 particles were manually picked in advance, and processed by 2D classification using RELION1.4 (Scheres, 2012).

Protein & Cell

But Machar is equally unwilling to entrust his security to the good intentions of the Juba government rather than to the weapons of his own picked in advance guard.

Vice

Be sure some type of leader is picked in advance by election and everyone agrees this is the case and is willing to listen to him or her.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Free; tickets must be reserved and picked up in advance, two per person.

The New York Times - Arts

It picked winners in advance, then got other insurers to offer artificially high bids that would make the winners' offers look reasonable.

The New Yorker

I had one I'd picked out in advance, a movie about a tough Hispanic girl who learns how to box and triumphs over her crappy life.

Vice

Unfortunately, we do not yet know how to pick out in advance who will and who will not respond to treatments.

The New York Times

Although this has helped exports, analysts cautioned on Thursday that the trade deficit could widen again in coming months as demand for gold picks up in advance of a key festival season, which begins this month.

The New York Times

But could we do better at picking winners in advance, at looking beyond the superficial signs and assessing a runner's inner state at, in some sense, measuring heart?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "picked in advance" when you want to highlight that a choice was deliberate and made before an event to ensure preparedness or fairness. It is particularly effective in logistical contexts such as seating, meal choices or leadership appointments.

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "picked in advance" (meaning selected) with "picked up in advance". The latter refers to the physical act of collecting something, such as tickets or a package, before it is needed. Always ensure your context clarifies whether you are talking about a choice or a physical action.

Linguistic Context

In the sentences analyzed by Ludwig, "picked in advance" functions primarily as a past participle phrase used either as part of a passive verb construction (e.g. "winners might easily have been "picked in advance"") or as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a standard, correct construction in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

20%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "picked in advance" is a highly versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to describe things or people chosen before a specific event. Ludwig AI examples demonstrate its prevalence in elite journalism (The New York Times, The Guardian) and scientific literature, where it describes everything from horse race winners to laboratory particles. Whether you are planning a party on WikiHow or discussing political strategy in The New Yorker, this phrase effectively conveys the act of prior selection. It is a more descriptive, multi-word alternative to "preselected" and is universally understood across all English-speaking contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

selected beforehand

Offers a slightly more formal tone, often preferred in academic or technical reporting.

chosen ahead of time

A more conversational and flexible alternative suitable for general writing.

preselected

A concise, single-word version frequently used in technical or administrative contexts.

determined in advance

Emphasizes the decision-making process rather than just the act of selection.

handpicked ahead of time

Suggests a more careful, personal or meticulous selection process.

pre-arranged

Focuses on the organizational aspect, implying the selection is part of a larger plan.

earmarked earlier

Commonly used when referring to resources or items set aside for a specific future purpose.

assigned beforehand

Specifically refers to roles, tasks or positions given to individuals in advance.

singled out early

Highlights the isolation of a specific choice from a larger group at an early stage.

vetted previously

Adds the nuance that the selection involved a prior evaluation or background check.

FAQs

How to use "picked in advance" in a sentence?

You can use it as a passive verb phrase, for example: "The winner was "picked in advance" to ensure the marketing campaign was ready." It can also modify a noun, as in "his own "picked in advance" guard."

What can I say instead of "picked in advance"?

Depending on your tone, you might use "selected beforehand", "preselected" or "chosen ahead of time".

Which is correct: "picked in advance" or "picked on advance"?

"picked in advance" is the correct idiomatic expression. The preposition "in" is used with "advance" to mean beforehand; "on advance" is grammatically incorrect in this context.

What is the difference between "picked in advance" and "preselected"?

While both mean the same thing, "preselected" is a more formal, single-word adjective often used in data or administrative contexts, whereas "picked in advance" is more common in narrative and general news reporting.