previous time was

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "previous time was" is not correct in standard written English.
It is unclear and lacks context, making it difficult to determine its intended meaning. Example: "The previous time was more enjoyable than this one."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Kirkland's best previous time was 12.63 seconds, but she obliterated that to finish in 12.42.

The New York Times - Sports

It is only the second time the Independent has overtaken MGD since both newspaper groups have recorded audited figures; the previous time was in September last year.

The Guardian

The previous time was 1998, when Jana Novotna defeated Nathalie Tauziat to win her first major title in her 45th Grand Slam appearance.

The New York Times - Sports

The previous time was the bombing of Halabja, Iraq, by Saddam Hussein in 1988, which killed roughly 5,000 people.

Vice

The previous time was the bombing of Halabja by Saddam Hussein in 1988, which killed roughly 5,000 people.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The time course of an experiment is divided into a number of successive short intervals and at each time step, new regulations based on metabolic steady state of the previous time is formulated.

BMC Systems Biology

"What we have seen in previous times is that a couple of weeks before a general election up to 70% of the commercials are political.

The Guardian

Oliveira's previous fastest time was 22.45s at last year's Brazilian national championships.

The Guardian - Sport

But this race and record really did belong to Crocker, whose previous best time was 52.21.

The New York Times - Sports

Soejima's previous best time was 1 37 31 last year, when he finished second to David Weir of Britain by two seconds.

The New York Times

Come November, Arsenal were sat in a disappointing 12th place, and with a North London derby to come in the League Cup at White Hart Lane – where Arsenal had lost 5-0 the previous season – time was fast running out for Terry Neill.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure clarity by completing the phrase with relevant information. For example, instead of just "previous time was", write "the previous time was more enjoyable".

Common error

Avoid using "previous time was" as a standalone phrase. It needs a completion to be grammatically correct and convey a clear meaning. A typical mistake is using this as a sentence ending, leaving the reader to guess the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "previous time was" functions as an incomplete predicate. It introduces a reference to a prior event but requires additional information to form a complete thought. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase lacks context and needs completion to be clear.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "previous time was" isn't strictly incorrect, Ludwig AI points out it often requires completion to make sense in most contexts. Its function typically serves as an incomplete predicate to draw comparisons, but it can sound awkward without proper follow-up. The phrase appears across news, media, and scientific texts, but a clearer alternative might be "last time was", or rephrasing it to be more specific and direct. Remember to avoid ending sentences abruptly with this phrase; always provide context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

last time was

Uses "last" instead of "previous", offering a more concise and commonly used alternative.

the prior occasion was

Replaces "time" with "occasion" and "previous" with "prior", making it sound more formal.

the preceding instance was

Substitutes "time" with "instance" and "previous" with "preceding", giving a slightly more technical or analytical tone.

on the former occasion

Rephrases the statement to emphasize a past event, suitable for formal contexts.

before that time

A simple rephrasing that shifts the focus to a point in time prior to the current one.

the earlier instance

Highlights an event that occurred earlier, suitable for emphasizing sequence.

in the past

A general reference to a time before the present, less specific than the original phrase.

formerly

A single-word adverb meaning 'in the past', useful for concise writing.

previously

An adverb that can replace "previous time" in many contexts, providing a more direct statement.

the time before

A more casual way of indicating the immediately preceding occasion.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "previous time was"?

You can use alternatives like "last time was", "the prior occasion was", or "the preceding instance was" depending on the context.

How can I use "previous time was" correctly in a sentence?

Ensure you complete the phrase with additional information to provide context. For instance, "The previous time was better organized" or "The previous time was in 2010" are grammatically sound.

Is "previous time was" grammatically correct?

While not inherently ungrammatical, "previous time was" is often incomplete and requires additional context to form a complete and meaningful sentence. For better clarity, consider alternatives.

Which is correct, "previous time was" or "last time was"?

Both phrases refer to a prior event, but "last time was" is generally more common and clearer. The choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.