predating the advent of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "predating the advent of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to something that existed or occurred before a particular event or development. Example: "The ancient civilization was predating the advent of modern technology by several centuries."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Islamic State militant group has vandalized, bulldozed, exploded and plundered numerous shrines, temples and palaces that predate the advent of Islam in the Middle East.

The Washington Post

Antique telephones, including an early touch-tone model that predates the advent of the pound and star keys, have a wall of their own.

The New York Times

Going into the meet, only four world records in Olympic events predated the advent of suits made at least in part with polyurethane: the women's 100 breaststroke and 100 butterfly; and the men's 400 and 1,500 freestyles.

The New York Times - Sports

The effect has been to cordon off all gay experience that predates the advent of psychology and to confirm an impression that modern gay history begins with the absurdly inflated figure of Oscar Wilde.

The New York Times - Books

Drawing from extensive research on animals primarily bonobos and chimpanzees, our nearest primate relatives as well as research on fossil records of early hominids, he shows how evidence of moral sentiments, like empathy and altruism, predate the advent of religion by millennia and co-evolved in non-human primates as well as in humans.

University of California, Berkeley

The novel is deranged and hilarious and would stand today as the most inspired parody of life in the surreal age of the Internet, social media and reality TV, if not for the fact that it essentially predated the advent of all three.

The New York Times - Magazine

The knowledge of extra nipples long predates the advent of modern medicine.

BBC

This product predated the advent of the inexpensive, mass-produced integrated circuit (IC) and related display technologies (7-segment LEDs).

TechCrunch

These publicly consumable displays predated the advent of moving pictures, which were arguably the largest nail in the panorama's coffin as an entertainment powerhouse.

Vice

The practices and codes of these tribal societies are extremely old and entrenched, and in some cases even predate the advent of Islam in the region.

Vice

Does This Blue Dress Make My Devil Butt Look Fat?: The depiction of women as she-devils, witches, evil soul-and-credit card-sucking goblins predates the advent of rock-n-roll.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "predating the advent of", ensure the context clearly establishes what is being predated. This phrase is most effective when highlighting a significant transition or development.

Common error

Avoid using "predating the advent of" in simple sentences where a more direct alternative like "before" or "prior to" would suffice. Simplicity enhances clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "predating the advent of" functions as a prepositional phrase, indicating a temporal relationship where something exists or occurs before a specific event or period. It establishes a chronological order between two points in time, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "predating the advent of" is a grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to denote something existing before a specific event or development. While Ludwig confirms its correctness, it is considered formal and may be replaced by simpler alternatives like "before" or "prior to" in less formal contexts. Given its neutral register and function to establish temporal precedence, its effective use relies on clarity and avoiding overcomplication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

before the arrival of

Replaces "advent" with "arrival", offering a more straightforward phrasing.

prior to the emergence of

Substitutes "predating" with "prior to" and "advent" with "emergence", resulting in a slightly more formal tone.

preceding the introduction of

Emphasizes the act of introducing something, changing the focus slightly.

antedating the rise of

Uses "antedating" and "rise" for a more literary or historical feel.

existing before the commencement of

Offers a more verbose and formal alternative using "commencement".

pre-existing the dawn of

Uses "dawn" as a metaphorical substitute for "advent", adding a sense of beginning.

dating back before the start of

More conversational and less formal than the original phrase.

earlier than the occurrence of

A more descriptive and less concise way of expressing the same relationship.

predating the inception of

Replaces "advent" with "inception", emphasizing the beginning or start of something.

before the unfolding of

Uses "unfolding" for a more narrative or descriptive effect.

FAQs

What does "predating the advent of" mean?

The phrase "predating the advent of" means existing or occurring before the beginning or appearance of something. It's used to indicate that one thing happened or existed before another came into being.

How can I use "predating the advent of" in a sentence?

You can use "predating the advent of" to show that something existed before a particular event or development. For example, "Certain philosophical concepts "predating the advent of modern science" explored similar ideas".

What are some alternatives to "predating the advent of"?

Alternatives to "predating the advent of" include "before the arrival of", "prior to the emergence of", or "preceding the introduction of". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "predating the advent of" formal or informal?

"Predating the advent of" is generally considered a formal phrase. In more casual contexts, simpler alternatives like "before" or "prior to" might be more appropriate.