preceded

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "preceded" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a verb that means to come before something else in time. For example: "The meeting was preceded by a short presentation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The only reason you see placards in Parliament Square today is because the anti-war protester Brian Haw's demonstration preceded the introduction of the act, which is not retrospective.

The Guardian - Opinion

No, generally the rugby league dive has been preceded by a genuine blow that the 'victim' is pretty sure was illegal.

The Guardian - Sport

The vote was preceded by testimony from women urged the agency to approve the drug and told about their fears of never being able to have sex again.

The Guardian

There is no appetite, though, for a drawn-out process – similar to that which preceded Trapattoni's appointment in 2008 – and, already, Martin O'Neill, who has his supporters within the FAI, has emerged as the favourite.

The Guardian - Sport

As befits my maverick old friend Nigel Lawson, his most memorable budget was not the one that preceded the 1987 election, which the Tories won in a canter, but his 1988 budget, in which he changed not just the British but the western world's attitude to acceptable levels of taxation by lowering the top rate from 60% to 40%.

The Guardian - Business

Related: Poundland must no longer claim everything it sells costs £1, says ASA Amazon Europe said the ad repeatedly said the "free" element of the trial was time-limited and, on all but one of the occasions on which the word "free" was used, it was preceded by "30-day".

The Guardian

The news was preceded by the retirement of a fifth assistant director, out of eight total.

The Guardian

Rodgers's reputation for high possession, pressing football at Swansea preceded him upon arrival at Anfield yet it was naive to think that mimicking those methods would ensure success with his new team.

The Guardian - Sport

The speech was preceded by a carnival-like atmosphere: hundreds queued happily outside in the heat, while others, without tickets, staked out with cameras the campus roundabout Obama's advance team reportedly wanted removed, for (ultimately unrealised) fears the Cadillac he travels in – the Beast – would fail to negotiate it.

The Guardian

As Obama left the hall, shaking hands with schoolchildren and at least one former governor general, the country music that preceded his arrival blared out once more.

The Guardian

The 1970 victory had been preceded by talk of competitiveness, lower taxes, the hunting down of "lame duck" industry, a curb on public spending and an assault on what was seen as untrammelled trade union power.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing events, consider using "preceded by" to emphasize what came before, creating a sense of anticipation or providing context.

Common error

Ensure you use the correct tense when employing "preceded". Often, writers mistakenly use the present tense instead of the past when describing historical sequences.

Linguistic Context

The word "preceded" functions as a verb, typically in the past tense or past participle form. It is used to indicate that something happened or existed before something else. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a standard and correct usage in English. The plentiful examples in the real world provided by Ludwig attest to this.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Sport

13%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "preceded" is a verb commonly used to indicate that something came before something else in time or sequence. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and wide applicability in English. The word is found in diverse contexts, primarily news and media, sport, and business, with a neutral register. When using "preceded", ensure correct tense usage and consider related phrases such as "came before" or "antedated" for nuanced expression. Its plentiful examples and its wide applicability demonstrated by Ludwig position it as an effective tool for expressing relationships between events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

came before

Uses a simpler, more direct verb phrase to indicate sequence.

was prior to

Emphasizes the temporal priority of one event over another.

was a precursor to

Highlights the predictive relationship between events.

antedated

A more formal synonym emphasizing an earlier date.

led up to

Suggests a causal connection in addition to temporal sequence.

was preliminary to

Emphasizes the preparatory nature of the earlier event.

introduced

Highlights how one thing sets the stage for another.

gave rise to

Focuses on how the first event caused or enabled the second.

paved the way for

Implies preparation or facilitation of a subsequent event.

heralded

Implies the first event as a sign or signal of the second.

FAQs

How can I use "preceded" in a sentence?

You can use "preceded" to indicate that something came before something else in time. For example, "The storm was "preceded by" a period of calm".

What are some alternatives to "preceded"?

Alternatives to "preceded" include "came before", "antedated", or "was prior to". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "preceded of" instead of "preceded by"?

No, the correct phrasing is "preceded by". The preposition "by" indicates what came before the subject in question. "Preceded of" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "preceded" and "followed"?

"Preceded" means to come before, while "followed" means to come after. For example, "The presentation was "preceded by" a Q&A session and "followed by" a networking event".