preceding message

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "preceding message" is correct and usable in written English.
It typically refers to the message or information that came before the current one being discussed or referenced. For example: "I apologize for the confusion caused by the preceding message. Allow me to clarify our policy on returns."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

A couple of facts can be surmised from the preceding message.

The New York Times

The preceding message was for people who've been brainwashed by two months of Doug Collins.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

(The "he" is not identified, but Mrs. Barker, Ms. Hatchel's grandmother, believes it's obvious from the preceding messages that the man is Mr. Scheetz).

The New York Times

"Our platform does this by analyzing the linguistic context in which the sticker is used — so, for instance, when you send a kissy emoji our sentiment analysis engine looks at your preceding messages to build up an understanding of the motivations that culminated in you sending that kissy emoji.

TechCrunch

Moby's heavy use of DAT and rock-show staging was met by sneers from newsgroups (email lists that preceded message boards, most notably one called alt.rave), as well as fellow headliners Aphex Twin and Vapourspace, both of whom prided themselves on performing the music fully live.

Vice

Perhaps these act as a "backup" for cases where translation precedes message cleavage.

BMC Genomics

And prosecutors contended that, in light of the long preceding text message conversation, the ping of the incoming message distracted her so that she did not notice Ms. McBryde's disabled car.

The New York Times - Tech

A long, uncertain silence preceded the message.

The New Yorker

When "American Hustle," about the real-world figures involved in the Abscam operation, hit theaters two years ago, director David O. Russell preemptively neutralized criticism with a short message preceding the action.

Los Angeles Times

In order to apply a directional RTS or CTS, a training sequence precedes these messages to estimate the channel.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Was it preceded by messaging traffic between two parties that may have shared inside data illicitly?

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a specific message in a series of communications, use "preceding message" to clearly indicate which message you are referencing. This is especially useful in technical documentation or formal correspondence.

Common error

Ensure you are not confusing "preceding message" with "following message". "Preceding" refers to something that came before, while "following" refers to something that comes after. Using the wrong term can cause significant confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "preceding message" functions as a determiner + noun, where "preceding" modifies the noun "message". It specifies a particular message that occurred before the current one under consideration. Ludwig confirms its correct usage, and the examples demonstrate its role in clarifying which message is being referenced.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "preceding message" is a grammatically correct and usable term that refers to a message that came before the current one. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While it's not exceedingly common, it's frequently encountered in news, scientific, and general writing, where clarity and precision are important. It's crucial to distinguish it from "following message" to avoid confusion, and alternatives like "previous message" or "earlier message" can be used in more informal contexts. The phrase functions to provide context and clarify references in a series of communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previous message

Replaces "preceding" with its direct synonym "previous".

earlier message

Substitutes "preceding" with "earlier", indicating a message from a prior time.

prior communication

Uses a more formal term, "communication", instead of "message", and "prior" instead of "preceding".

foregoing message

Replaces "preceding" with the more formal synonym "foregoing".

aforementioned message

Uses a formal term, "aforementioned", to refer to a message previously mentioned.

message before this

Rephrases the concept to be more descriptive and less direct.

the message above

Indicates that the message was physically above the current one.

the preceding correspondence

Uses "correspondence" to refer to messages.

initial message

This implies that the "preceding message" was the first in a series.

antecedent message

Replaces "preceding" with the more technical term "antecedent".

FAQs

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

You can use "preceding message" to refer to a message that came before the current one. For example, "Please disregard the information in the "preceding message" as it contained an error."

What's a simpler alternative to "preceding message"?

A simpler alternative is "previous message" or "earlier message". Both convey the same meaning in most contexts.

Is it correct to use "preceding" to refer to something in the future?

No, "preceding" refers to something that has already happened or exists before the present point. Use "following" or "subsequent" to refer to something in the future.

What is the difference between "preceding message" and "aforementioned message"?

"Preceding message" simply means the message that came before. "Aforementioned message" refers to a message that was specifically mentioned earlier in the text. The "aforementioned message" has to have been explicitly referenced previously.