preceded with

USAGE SUMMARY

"preceded with" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to come before something or happen before something else. For example: "The lecture was preceded with a brief introduction from the professor."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Dinner was customarily preceded with cocktails.

The New York Times

Each time the question was preceded with: 'I'm probably not supposed to ask this but......

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The news reports were preceded with reminders to vote from the organization Declare Yourself.

The New York Times

Each chapter is preceded with a black and white photograph that perfectly suits the mood.

The Guardian - Books

He completed more than 5,000 of them, each preceded with careful drawings and sketches.

Independent

At the bottom of the box, he added the word "Hope" that a friend later preceded with "Bob".

The New York Times - Health

Unlike previous TwiTrips, my Blackpool adventure was preceded with a request: I wanted history, tradition, and nostalgia.

The Guardian - Travel

And so she preceded, with an almost surreal disregard for the subjects she was supposed to be discussing, to unleash fusillades of scripted attack lines, platitudes, lies, gibberish and grating references to her own pseudo-folksy authenticity.

The Guardian - Opinion

Given rich memories of what she called "once upon a time" theater, Ms. Herscher's responses are often preceded with the command, "Don't get me started," when asked about the state of Broadway, especially musicals.

The New York Times

Each song is preceded with wisecracking anecdotage about Uncle Frank or Gwen Verdon or some other golden-age luminary, illustrating the point that Minnelli is the last of a breed.

The Guardian - Music

Transformed series are preceded with the letter "L".

Journal of Economic Structures

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "preceded with", ensure the context clearly establishes a sequence of events. It's particularly effective in formal writing where precision is valued.

Common error

Avoid using "preceded with" when you actually mean that one event caused another. "Preceded with" only indicates sequence, not necessarily causation. For instance, instead of saying "The earthquake was preceded with a tremor, so it must have caused it", make it clear that it was simply in sequence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "preceded with" functions as a verb phrase indicating the chronological order of events. It shows that an action or event happened before another, as shown in Ludwig's examples where dinner is "preceded with" cocktails or news reports are "preceded with" reminders.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "preceded with" is a verb phrase used to indicate that something occurred before something else. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used. It's most commonly found in science and news media contexts, where it serves to establish a temporal sequence. When writing, it's important to ensure you're indicating sequence and not necessarily causation, and to be mindful of the phrase's formality. Alternative phrases such as "came before" or "was prior to" may be more appropriate in informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

came before

This alternative is more direct and simpler, replacing the formal term "preceded" with a more common verb.

occurred before

This alternative emphasizes the occurrence of an event before another, suitable for describing events or processes.

was prior to

This phrase uses "prior to" instead of "preceded with", maintaining a formal tone but with slightly different wording.

antedated by

This is a more formal and less common synonym, emphasizing the chronological order.

was the precursor to

Implies that the initial event directly influenced or led to the subsequent event, often suggesting a causal relationship.

followed by

Expresses the same temporal relationship but from the opposite perspective; focusing on what comes after rather than what comes before.

commenced with

Suggests that something began with a particular element or action, emphasizing the start of a sequence.

opened with

Similar to "commenced with", but specifically used when the initial element is perceived as an opening act or introduction.

initiated with

Like "introduced by", but puts more emphasis on the initiation of something rather than the introduction.

introduced by

Implies that something was initiated or presented before something else, often used in the context of introductions or beginnings.

FAQs

How can I use "preceded with" in a sentence?

Use "preceded with" to indicate that one event happened before another. For example: "The concert was "preceded with" an opening act".

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

"Preceded with" indicates what came before, while "followed by" indicates what came after. They describe the same sequence from opposite perspectives. For example: "The speech was "preceded with" an introduction and "followed by" a Q&A session".

What are some alternatives to "preceded with"?

Some alternatives include "came before", "was prior to", or "occurred before". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is "preceded with" formal or informal?

"Preceded with" is generally considered a formal phrase, suitable for academic, professional, or news-related writing. More informal options include "came before" or "started with".