previous time when

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "previous time when" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a specific past occasion or instance in which something occurred. Example: "I remember the previous time when we went hiking together; it was an unforgettable experience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The previous time when Afghan asylum requests were that high was in 2001, when the Taliban were in power.

The New York Times

There was no previous time when he asked me to drive home from dinner in town: this evening on Camino Palmero was unprecedented.

The New York Times - Magazine

The only previous time when either house has come close to passing a bill protecting gays was in 1996, when a 50-to-49 50-to-49 50-to-49e defeated a movoteo prohinitheob diSenatenation basedefeatedual orientation.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

In all the finals over the years, there have been 18 previous times when the series was tied, 2-2.

The New York Times - Sports

"We have a court warrant this time, unlike previous times, when we only asked for the temple's cooperation, which did not work," Adisorn said.

The Guardian

Since the Nasdaq index began in 1971, there have been only four previous times when each index managed to fall for at least six consecutive weeks.

The New York Times

Unlike previous times, when they went out on wild binges, Mr. Thacher told him that he quit booze and was a member of the Oxford Group, a church-based association devoted to living on a higher spiritual plane guided by Christianity.

The New York Times - Health

This reminds me exactly of previous times when other All Black teams have been praised excessively and virtually handed the World Cup by some commentators, only to go on and lose in the quarters or semis".

The Guardian - Sport

For each dollar China handed to OPEC, 64 cents flowed back in increased exports.Oil producers understandably do not want to repeat the mistakes of previous times, when spending surged as oil prices rose only to leave behind large deficits when prices later fell.

The Economist

"Steven's just mixed in like the previous times when he was on board.

BBC

"Over previous times when we have been here we might not have got anything from the game but we got a point in a different way.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a specific event, follow "previous time when" with a clause that clearly defines what happened at that time to provide context.

Common error

Avoid using "previous time when" without specifying what you are comparing it to. Ensure the context makes it clear which event you are referring to. For example, instead of saying 'It was better the previous time when,' specify 'It was better the previous time when we visited the museum.'

Linguistic Context

The phrase "previous time when" functions as an adverbial phrase introducing a relative clause that specifies a particular point in the past. Ludwig confirms that it is used to provide context by referring to a specific instance.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "previous time when" is a grammatically correct and usable English phrase used to refer to a specific past occasion. As Ludwig highlights, it functions as an adverbial phrase introducing a relative clause, helping to set a temporal context. Though relatively rare, it appears most frequently in news and media sources. When using the phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what occurred at that prior time. Alternatives such as "last time that" or "prior instance where" may offer similar meanings with slight variations in formality and specificity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

last time that

This alternative uses 'last' instead of 'previous' to indicate the most recent occasion.

prior instance where

This phrase employs 'prior' and 'instance' to provide a more formal tone.

earlier occasion when

Using 'earlier' and 'occasion' emphasizes that the event happened before the present moment.

former period that

This alternative replaces 'time' with 'period', focusing on a duration in the past.

preceding moment that

This option utilizes 'preceding' and 'moment' to denote the immediately earlier point in time.

past event where

This phrase uses 'past event' to highlight an occurrence from the past.

in the past when

This alternative provides a general reference to a point in time that is not the present.

back when

This is a more informal and concise way to refer to a time in the past.

once before when

This alternative specifies that something happened at least one time prior to the present.

previously when

This is a shortened way to indicate something that occurred before now.

FAQs

How can I use "previous time when" in a sentence?

Use "previous time when" to refer to a specific occasion in the past. For example: "The "last time when" I saw him, he was very happy."

What phrases are similar to "previous time when"?

Similar phrases include "last time that", "prior instance where", or "earlier occasion when".

Is there a more formal way to say "previous time when"?

Yes, a more formal alternative is "prior instance where". This phrase is suitable for academic or professional contexts.

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

"Previous time when" and ""last time when"" are very similar. "Last time when" generally refers to the most recent occurrence, while "previous time when" can refer to any earlier occurrence, not necessarily the most recent.