previous day

USAGE SUMMARY

"previous day" is a perfectly acceptable phrase that can be used in written English.
For example, "I left the office early the previous day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Heath had turned 32 the previous day.

The Guardian - Sport

The previous day, the number was 507.

The New York Times

It was last Tuesday, not the previous day.

The New York Times

Another candidate is the previous day, 26 October.

The Guardian - Opinion

I reviewed what I had learned the previous day.

The New York Times - Travel

She had had the H.I.V*.* test the previous day.

The New Yorker

"Every day is worse than the previous day".

The New Yorker

The previous day, a homeless patient had come in.

The New Yorker

The game in Washington was rained out the previous day.

The New York Times - Sports

(The previous day, Atencio had made the same analogy).

The New Yorker

The previous day Sanders had been in Keene, New Hampshire.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "previous day" to maintain a formal tone, especially in professional or academic writing. For less formal contexts, "yesterday" is often preferred.

Common error

Avoid using "previous day" when a more specific time reference is possible. Instead of "The meeting was scheduled for the previous day", specify the exact date: "The meeting was scheduled for July 29th."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "previous day" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate when an action or event occurred in relation to the current time. It provides a temporal reference, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "previous day" serves as a common and grammatically sound way to refer to the day before the present. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English. While alternatives such as "yesterday", "the day before", and "the preceding day" exist, "previous day" often lends a more formal tone, particularly in news, media, and scientific contexts. Remember to provide specific dates when possible for enhanced clarity, but be assured that "previous day" is a reliable and frequently used phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

yesterday

Most direct and common synonym.

the day before

More conversational and slightly less formal.

the prior day

Similar in formality to "previous day", but uses 'prior'.

the preceding day

Slightly more formal and emphasizes sequence.

a day earlier

Focuses on the temporal distance of one day.

the immediately preceding day

Emphasizes the direct sequence and is more formal.

the former day

Similar to "previous day" but might imply a longer period has passed.

the day before that

Specifies one day before a known reference point.

on the eve of

More literary and suggests anticipation or importance.

the day gone by

Poetic and less frequently used.

FAQs

What's the difference between "previous day" and "yesterday"?

"Previous day" is generally more formal and suitable for written contexts, while "yesterday" is more common in spoken language and informal writing. They both refer to the day before the current day.

How can I use "previous day" in a sentence?

You can use "previous day" to refer to something that happened on the day before the current day. For example, "The report covered events from the "previous day"."

Is "previous day" formal or informal?

"Previous day" is generally considered more formal than "yesterday" and is often used in professional or academic writing.

What are some alternatives to using "previous day"?

Alternatives include "the day before", "the preceding day", or simply "yesterday" depending on the context and desired level of formality.