present and previous

USAGE SUMMARY

"present and previous" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used to refer to two specific periods of time, with "present" meaning the current time and "previous" meaning a time that came before the present. Example: "The company's financial report compares the present and previous quarter's earnings."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Present and previous data are analysed and correlations are presented.

Chemical Engineering Science

Comparisons of present and previous results are excellent.

Journal of Computational Physics

The numerical results are validated with recorded experimental data in the present and previous studies.

Microelectronics Reliability

Campaigners have long called for a more aggressive policy and have criticised both the present and previous government's closeness to the drinks industry.

The Guardian

The present and previous pope wanted the world to believe that relativism was the great curse of modernity and an ever more authoritarian church the only answer.

The New York Times

Under the present and previous governments Britain has become a sordid, cruel, lawless country which has demolished the most precious and necessary elements of a democracy.

The Guardian

The reason for this difference between the present and previous studies is unknown but may be related to distinct primary antibodies used.

Nature

In addition, pressure measurement accuracy was validated by comparison of the pressure waveforms between present and previous results.

Measurement

Agreement of theoretical results with the present and previous experimental results in the free vibration state is good.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

I had to stop myself singing along to every song and saved myself for the audience singalong at the curtain, when Benny and Björn made sweet speeches of thanks to casts present and previous.

The Guardian

As noted above, it cannot be decided from the present and previous findings whether NE itself contributes to the innervation of motoric α1-receptors in these regions and therefore this possibility remains open.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing data, clearly define the timeframes that "present" and "previous" refer to, such as "present quarter" and "previous year" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "present and previous" without specifying the context. For example, instead of saying "present and previous findings conflict", specify "findings from the present study and previous research" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "present and previous" functions as a compound adjective, typically modifying nouns to indicate a comparison between the current state and a prior one. Ludwig AI affirms its grammatical correctness, and examples show its wide applicability in academic, news and business contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "present and previous" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to compare current and past states, data, or findings. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and the numerous examples illustrate its prevalence across diverse fields like science, news, and business. It is generally used in a neutral register and its effectiveness lies in clearly establishing a point of comparison. When using the phrase, ensure the context of "present" and "previous" are well-defined. Consider using "current and past" or "existing and former" as alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

present and past

Simple variation where "previous" is swapped with "past" and the meaning is retained

current and past

Replaces "present" with "current" and "previous" with "past", offering a slightly more concise alternative.

recent and prior

Synonymous replacement of words, maintaining the same level of formality.

existing and former

Uses "existing" to describe the present and "former" to describe the past, implying a state or condition.

present-day and prior

The inclusion of "-day" in present adds emphasis, and prior has a slightly elevated formality.

current alongside previous

This alternative offers a different syntactical structure and slightly emphasizes contrast.

the current and preceding

Uses "preceding" for a more formal tone when referring to what came before.

current and historical

Emphasizes the historical aspect of the 'previous' state, suitable when contrasting with a longer timeframe.

contemporary and earlier

A more formal phrasing, where "contemporary" is used instead of "present" and "earlier" instead of "previous".

now and before

A simpler, more informal way to indicate the present versus a time before now.

FAQs

How can I use "present and previous" in a sentence?

Use "present and previous" to compare current conditions or data with those from an earlier time. For example, "The company's profits exceeded both the "current and previous" quarter's earnings".

What's a more formal alternative to "present and previous"?

More formal alternatives include "contemporary and earlier", or "the current and preceding".

Is there a subtle difference between "present and previous" and "current and past"?

"Present and previous" is often used when comparing specific studies or data sets. "Current and past" is used more broadly to discuss general conditions or trends.

Can I use "present and previous" when discussing future plans?

No, "present and previous" refers to current and past situations. When talking about the future, use phrases like "future and present" or "future and current".