previous plan

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "previous plan" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a plan that was made before the current one, often in discussions about changes or updates to strategies or actions. Example: "After reviewing the previous plan, we decided to make some adjustments to better align with our current goals."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A previous plan had earmarked 24 hectares.

The Times

Under the previous plan, the requirement would have been 4percentt.

The New York Times

A previous plan called for reducing it by a further 1,320 positions.

The New York Times

Roughly 8,000 of the seats had been included in the previous plan but never built.

The New York Times

He said he lost about $500,000 when the Romanian government discontinued the previous plan.

The New York Times

Residents groups also criticised the council on how they were consulted for the previous plan.

The Guardian

Officials seem to have decided that the previous plan was too diffuse.

The New York Times

Under a previous plan, some would have had to travel to Manhattan Beach for their education.

The New York Times

After all, Mr Glocer has almost delivered the full £440m of cost savings from his previous plan.

The Guardian

The sales requirement will rise to about 15,000 in 2012, down from 40,000 under the previous plan.

The New York Times

But like the previous plan, it will have to pass muster with Sleepy Hollow's 10,200 residents.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing a current plan to a "previous plan", clearly state the reason for the change, whether it's due to new information, revised goals, or unforeseen circumstances.

Common error

Always provide enough context about the "previous plan" so that the reader understands the rationale behind the current strategy. Don't assume the reader has prior knowledge of the abandoned strategy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "previous plan" functions as a noun phrase, where "previous" acts as a pre-modifying adjective specifying the temporal aspect of the "plan". Ludwig examples show it commonly refers to superseded strategies.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

14%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "previous plan" is a grammatically correct and very commonly used noun phrase, primarily functioning to reference a strategy or course of action that existed before the present one. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and notes its effectiveness for discussions about changes or updates. As shown by Ludwig, it appears most frequently in news and media contexts, but is also prevalent in formal business and scientific settings. When using "previous plan", ensure that you provide enough context for your audience to understand the reasons behind any changes. Alternatives include "earlier plan", "prior plan", and "former plan", each carrying subtly different connotations depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

earlier plan

This alternative simply uses a different adjective to specify the plan's temporal relation to the current one.

prior plan

Similar to "earlier plan", this uses "prior" as a synonym for "previous", indicating a plan that came before.

former plan

This uses "former" to denote that the plan is no longer in effect or relevant.

original plan

This refers to the initial or first plan, which may have been subsequently changed or replaced.

initial strategy

This broadens the scope from a specific plan to a more general strategy that was in place before.

previous arrangement

This suggests a less formal or structured plan, perhaps an agreement or understanding.

superseded plan

This highlights that the previous plan has been officially replaced by a new one.

outdated plan

This implies that the previous plan is no longer relevant or effective due to changes in circumstances.

abandoned plan

This indicates that the previous plan was intentionally discarded or given up.

rejected plan

This suggests that the previous plan was not accepted or approved.

FAQs

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

You can use "previous plan" to refer to a strategy or course of action that existed before the current one, such as, "The new budget reflects significant changes from the "previous plan" due to updated revenue projections."

What are some alternatives to using "previous plan"?

Alternatives include "earlier plan", "prior plan", "former plan", or "original plan", each carrying slightly different connotations.

What is the difference between "previous plan" and "original plan"?

"Previous plan" generally refers to the plan immediately preceding the current one, while "original plan" refers to the very first plan in a sequence of plans. A "previous plan" may not necessarily be the "original plan".

Is it appropriate to use "previous plan" in formal writing?

Yes, "previous plan" is suitable for formal writing. However, ensure that the context is clear and that you've adequately explained what the "previous plan" entailed and why it was changed.