precedes

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'precedes' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used as both a verb and a noun to refer to something that comes before or is earlier than something else. Example sentence: "The parade will begin after the countdown that precedes it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There is not that tug of a cultural tide that reliably precedes regime change.

The Guardian - Opinion

The rally - one of dozens nationwide - precedes the second reading of her railways bill in Parliament next Friday.

The Guardian

The Leeds University study, carried out by Dr Teela Sanders in partnership with National Ugly Mugs, a scheme to encourage sex workers to raise the alarm about violent men they encounter, precedes a much larger study funded by the European Social Research Council, which starts in September.

The Guardian

It is the sort of language that precedes civil wars, and talking of Russian anger that the bloodshed in Mariupol had come on Victory Day, Semenchenko he did not believe that the pro-Russians had anything to celebrate.

The Guardian

Compare, for example, Natalie Portman's various appearances in Hotel Chevalier, the teeth-grindingly irritating short film that precedes the far superior The Darjeeling Limited.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It precedes hit The Blacklist, which should provide a good lead in for The Player, a new show starring Wesley Snipes as a security expert on whom rich people bet whether or not he'll be able to stop crimes from happening.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

They are pioneers who will be watched all the way to the White House.Not so long ago there was broad, bipartisan support for government provision of pre-school (called "pre-K", since it precedes kindergarten): a year of classes and play designed to ensure that children are ready for the serious business of learning.

The Economist

In his classic account of the making of a soldier, now updated and with a new introduction, Mr Holmes shows how armies have sought to scrape off every shred of civilian identity from a recruit and build the vital esprit de corps and how green soldiers cope with the fear of being afraid that precedes first combat.

The Economist

No area is showing signs of the kind of disastrous implosion that often precedes a recession.

The Economist

Today his reputation precedes him: Israel has agreed to start restoring some $560m in arrears since Hamas won power in elections 18 months ago, and the donors have lifted a boycott on the PA.In this section The labours of Fayyad From crisis to crisis A little less purity goes a long way Trying to kiss and make up ReprintsBut this time the stakes are higher.

The Economist

At the University of California, Randall Peerenboom defends the "East Asian model", according to which economic development naturally precedes democracy.Whatever the eggheads may be saying, there are some obvious reasons why Western governments' zeal to promote democracy, and the willingness of other countries to listen, have ebbed.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "precedes", ensure that the relationship between the two elements is logical and consistent throughout your text.

Common error

Avoid using a preposition after "precedes". The word already implies 'before', so phrases like "precedes before" are redundant and grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "precedes" is a verb, typically used in the third-person singular form. As Ludwig shows, it indicates that something occurs before another thing in time, order, or rank. The auxiliary verb usage and sentence structure is pretty consistent in the examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "precedes" is a grammatically sound verb used to indicate that something comes before something else. Ludwig's analysis confirms its correct usage across various contexts, primarily in news, science, and formal writing. It's important to avoid redundancy, such as "precedes before". Semantically related alternatives include "comes before" and "antecedes". The phrase is best used to establish clear temporal or logical relationships, contributing to the clarity and precision of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

comes before

A more straightforward and common way to express the same temporal order.

antecedes

A more formal synonym, suitable for academic or technical contexts.

predates

Focuses specifically on the temporal aspect of coming before.

is a precursor to

Highlights the predictive relationship between the two events.

heralds

Suggests that the first event signals the arrival of the second.

sets the stage for

Emphasizes the preparatory nature of the first event.

ushers in

Implies that the first event introduces or leads to the second.

paves the way for

Indicates that the first event makes the second possible or easier.

is followed by

Expresses the relationship from the perspective of the second event.

gives rise to

Indicates that the first event causes or creates the second.

FAQs

How do I use "precedes" in a sentence?

Use "precedes" to indicate that something comes before something else in time, order, or importance. For example: "The introduction precedes the main body of the essay."

What can I say instead of "precedes"?

You can use alternatives like "comes before", "antecedes", or "predates" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "precedes before"?

No, "precedes before" is redundant. The word "precedes" already means 'comes before', so adding "before" is unnecessary.

What is the difference between "precedes" and "follows"?

"Precedes" means to come before something, while "follows" means to come after it. They are opposite in meaning, indicating different positions in a sequence.