preceding effort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "preceding effort" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to an effort or attempt that was made before the current one being discussed. Example: "The results of the preceding effort were taken into account when planning the new project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

SolEST is built on the basis of a preceding effort which was centred on the investigation of ESTs from multiple tomato species [ 12].

BMC Plant Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

They hope the mission, which is less ambitious than preceding efforts, will set the United States' troubled Mars Exploration Program back on track.

Science Magazine

The Scholium following Proposition 35 opens with the explanation for the preceding efforts on the lunar inequalities: "I wished to show by these computations of the lunar motions that the lunar motions can be computed from their causes by the theory of gravity" [P, 869].

SEP

Many preceding efforts have been made to stratify patients based on medical records and data obtained during the hospital stay.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

In healthy humans, increase of low frequencies in EEG show a clear correlation with decline of sustained attention, which is necessary in preceding memory efforts [25].

Plosone

These findings suggest the possibility that the reduction in infection rates could be attributable as much to concurrent and preceding improvement efforts and to the consciousness-raising effect of a nationwide programme as to any specific component of the Matching Michigan programme itself.

BMJ Quality and Safety

— For all the wind-tunnel testing and manic fund-raising that may precede an effort to set a land-speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats, success ultimately depends on the performance of that most volatile variable, the driver.

The New York Times

Speaking in a local synagogue last Nov. 7, Archbishop Weakland said that conversion, the change of attitude that precedes an effort to change one's life and society, must include acknowledgment of wrongdoing, a request for forgiveness and a resolve to reform.

The New York Times

If knowledge does not generate its objects, objects ontologically precede any effort to grasp them.

SEP

It was associated with a subjective increase in urge to cough followed by a true cough reflex characterised by a preceding large inspiratory effort.

Cough

In any case, the declaration of war should be preceded by efforts at conciliation and arbitration.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "preceding effort", ensure that the context clearly establishes what the effort refers to, preventing ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "preceding effort" without clearly defining the timeline or the specific effort being referenced, which can lead to confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "preceding effort" functions as a noun phrase, where "preceding" acts as a modifier describing the type of effort. It refers to an action or endeavor that occurred before the current one being discussed, as shown in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "preceding effort" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase to refer to a prior action or attempt, as confirmed by Ludwig. It's most commonly found in scientific and news contexts. While "preceding effort" is not very common, it effectively connects past endeavors with current strategies, but you may want to consider alternatives such as "earlier attempt" or "previous endeavor" to express a similar meaning. When using this phrase, ensure a clear reference to the effort being discussed to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

earlier attempt

Focuses on the attempt made at an earlier time.

early attempt

Highlights it was an attempt at an early stage.

previous endeavor

Emphasizes the nature of the effort as an undertaking or endeavor.

prior undertaking

Highlights the chronological order, indicating it happened before.

antecedent action

More formal, highlighting the action that came before.

foregoing measure

Emphasizes the action taken previously as a step or measure.

initial exertion

Focuses on the effort exerted at the beginning.

original initiative

Highlights the initial action taken to start something.

preliminary work

Emphasizes the work done as preparation.

foundational step

Highlights that the previous action was a base for the following.

FAQs

How can I use "preceding effort" in a sentence?

You can use "preceding effort" to refer to a prior attempt or action taken before the current one. For example: "The new strategy builds upon the insights gained from the "preceding effort"."

What is a good alternative to "preceding effort"?

Alternatives include "earlier attempt", "previous endeavor", or "prior undertaking", depending on the specific context you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "the effort preceding" instead of "preceding effort"?

While grammatically understandable, "the effort preceding" is less common and may sound slightly awkward. "Preceding effort" is generally a more natural and concise phrasing.

What's the difference between "preceding effort" and "previous effort"?

Both ""preceding effort"" and "previous effort" are very similar in meaning and often interchangeable. "Preceding" emphasizes the chronological order more directly, while "previous" is a slightly more general term.