preceding step

USAGE SUMMARY

'preceding step' is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to a step that has just been taken or is about to be taken in a process. For example: "Before beginning the next step, make sure you have completed the preceding step correctly."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Formal & Business

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The surface complex formation may be a preceding step to electrochemical reduction of CO to hydrocarbons and alcohols.

Electrochimica Acta

The preceding step in a pipeline may introduce errors in its output, of which the succeeding step may not be aware.

Nature

Our findings suggest that endothelial cord formation is a preceding step to tubulogenesis and the proposed system can be used to develop organized vasculature for engineered tissue constructs.

Biomaterials

In a lean system, raw materials and work-in-process inventory are "pulled" from the preceding step only when they're needed by the downstream step, rather than being "pushed" onto the downstream step when the previous operation is complete.

Harvard Business Review

The parameter tuning in each step is based on the performance results from the preceding step.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Face detection is an important preceding step for head-pose estimation [3, 32, 39, 40].

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

With the same argument as in the preceding step, we get that (partial _n v(x ge 0).

Bulletin of Mathematical Sciences

To this end, the identifying step for fault type is conducted as the preceding step through four sub-steps.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

bottom-up design activity: a. adoption of the critical subsystem as the best compromise found in preceding step;   b.

European Transport Research Review

Perform cluster analysis using the k-means method (Hartingan and Wong 1979) on the database obtained at the preceding step (Fig. 5a).

Earth, Planets and Space

adoption of the critical subsystem as the best compromise found in preceding step; identification of different possible alternatives of the functional modules using subsystems at technology readiness state.

European Transport Research Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a multi-stage process, clearly reference the "preceding step" to ensure clarity and logical flow. This is especially important in technical documentation or scientific papers.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by explicitly stating the order of steps. Do not assume the reader will automatically understand which step is the "preceding step". For example, instead of just saying "After the preceding step...", specify which step you are referring to: "After step 2, which is the preceding step, proceed to step 3."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "preceding step" functions as a noun phrase that modifies the noun "step" with the adjective "preceding". According to Ludwig, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. It identifies a specific action or stage that occurs immediately before another.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

87%

Formal & Business

7%

News & Media

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "preceding step" is a grammatically sound and frequently used term, especially within scientific and technical fields. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English, indicating its role in clearly defining the sequence of actions in a process. To enhance clarity in writing, always make explicit what "preceding step" refers to and avoid any ambiguity with the "following step". While alternatives like "previous stage" or "prior action" exist, "preceding step" maintains a precise and formal tone suitable for technical and academic contexts. Its high frequency across authoritative sources underscores its importance in conveying process-related information accurately.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previous stage

Replaces "step" with "stage", implying a broader phase in a process.

prior action

Substitutes "step" with "action", focusing on the act performed before the current one.

earlier phase

Similar to "previous stage" but emphasizes the temporal aspect of the sequence.

antecedent measure

More formal replacement using "antecedent" to indicate something that comes before.

initial procedure

Highlights that the step is the first in a sequence of actions.

preliminary action

Replaces "preceding" with "preliminary", stressing the preparatory nature of the step.

foundational element

Emphasizes the importance of the step as a base for subsequent actions.

prior iteration

Implies that the step is one of several repetitions, and this one came before.

base component

Highlights the fundamental role of the step in a larger process or system.

starting point

Simplifies the phrase to indicate the beginning of a process or sequence.

FAQs

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

You can use "preceding step" to refer to an action or stage that happened immediately before the current one in a process. For example: "Ensure that all requirements from the "previous step" are met before moving forward."

What is a good alternative to "preceding step"?

Alternatives to "preceding step" include "previous stage", "prior action", or "earlier phase". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

Is there a difference between "preceding step" and "previous step"?

While "preceding step" and "previous step" are often used interchangeably, "preceding step" emphasizes the direct sequence and immediate prior action, whereas "previous step" can refer to any earlier step in the process.

In what contexts is it best to use "preceding step"?

"Preceding step" is suitable in contexts where you need to precisely refer to the immediately prior action in a sequence, such as in scientific research, technical documentation, or instructions manuals.