previous occasion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "previous occasion" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to refer to an event or situation that occurred before the current one being discussed. Example: "On the previous occasion, I had forgotten my keys at home and had to ask my neighbor to let me in."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Harper had been to Big Island on one previous occasion.

Harvard University

Despite the law's age, the Supreme Court has not had a previous occasion to interpret it.

The New York Times

It is reported they had stayed at the RIU Imperial Marhaba hotel on a previous occasion.

The Guardian

I realized that my victory in this event meant more than on any previous occasion.

The Guardian - Sport

It is believed they could be two men seen acting suspiciously on a previous occasion.

The Guardian

On a previous occasion, he referred to her as a "dalal," or middleman.

The New York Times

Nelson acted with them as a distributor on the latter date, and perhaps on one previous occasion.

Cornell University

On the previous occasion, when Preston North End played Port Vale in November, the consequences were even worse.

The Guardian - Sport

John, who is three minutes older, recalled only one previous occasion when they played for different teams.

The New York Times - Sports

Marking his distance from the Americans, he went further than on any previous occasion in criticizing the occupation.

The New York Times

"It is believed they could be two men seen acting suspiciously on a previous occasion," she said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "previous occasion" to refer to a specific instance or event that occurred before the one currently being discussed, especially when emphasizing the specific occurrence rather than just the general past.

Common error

Avoid using "previous occasion" when a more specific timeframe or event can be identified. For example, instead of saying "On a previous occasion, the system failed", specify "During the July outage, the system failed."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "previous occasion" functions as a temporal adjunct, modifying a verb or clause to indicate when something occurred in relation to the present moment. It provides context by situating the event at an earlier point in time. Ludwig confirms this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

32%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "previous occasion" is a grammatically sound and frequently used temporal adjunct, serving to indicate a specific instance in the past. As validated by Ludwig, it functions effectively in formal and neutral contexts, particularly in news, scientific, and academic writing. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure it refers to a specific event and not simply a general period in the past. Alternatives like "earlier instance" or "prior event" can be considered for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previous instance

Replaces "occasion" with "instance" for a slightly more specific feel.

earlier instance

Replaces "occasion" with "instance", emphasizing a specific occurrence.

prior event

Substitutes "previous" with "prior" and "occasion" with "event", creating a slightly more formal tone.

past instance

Uses "past" instead of "previous", maintaining a similar meaning and level of formality.

former instance

Uses "former" instead of "previous", implying a distinction from the current situation.

on a prior date

Similar to "at an earlier date" but uses "prior" for a slightly more formal tone.

at an earlier date

Replaces "previous occasion" with a more direct reference to time.

in the past

Offers a more general way to refer to a prior time, lacking the specificity of "occasion".

at a former time

Uses "former" and "time" to convey the idea of a previous occurrence.

in a prior situation

Focuses on the situation rather than the specific occurrence or time.

FAQs

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

The phrase "previous occasion" is used to refer to an event or situation that happened before the current one. For example, "On a previous occasion, I forgot my keys."

What are some alternatives to "previous occasion"?

You can use alternatives such as "earlier instance", "prior event", or "past instance" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "previous occasion" or "prior occasion"?

Both "previous occasion" and "prior occasion" are grammatically correct and have similar meanings. "Previous" is generally more common, but "prior" can add a slightly more formal tone.

What's the difference between "previous occasion" and "last time"?

"Previous occasion" refers to a specific instance in the past, while "last time" refers to the most recent instance. "Last time" implies a more immediate or direct connection to the present situation than "previous occasion".