previous trial

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "previous trial" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to an earlier attempt or experiment in a series of trials or tests. Example: "The results from the previous trial indicated a significant improvement in performance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A previous trial ended in a hung jury.

The New York Times - Sports

A previous trial last summer had the same result.

The New York Times

Response selectivity was stronger on a given trial if the previous trial had been rewarded and weaker if the previous trial was an error.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

# transition from the previous trial and settle into a stable state).

Yale University

The students' experience in previous trial advocacy competitions also served them well.

University of California, Berkeley

Haas conducted a previous trial to test efficacy of rice bio-fortified with iron.

Cornell University

Officer Conroy's previous trial on manslaughter charges ended in deadlock last March.

The New York Times

He was also challenged that his evidence directly contradicted what he had told the previous trial.

The Guardian

The court case has echoes of a previous trial in the UK.

The Guardian

Her doctor had prescribed her anti-anxiety and anti-depression medication for the previous trial.

The Washington Post

This episode was analysed and compared to a previous trial during which no incident occurred.

Journal of Biomechanics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a specific trial that has already been mentioned, use "the previous trial" for clarity. Otherwise, "a previous trial" is appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using future tense when referring to a "previous trial". Ensure the verb tense reflects that the trial has already occurred.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "previous trial" functions as a noun phrase, where "previous" acts as a modifier specifying the time frame of the "trial". According to Ludwig, it is used to identify an earlier attempt or occurrence of a trial. This aligns with the many examples found.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "previous trial" is a grammatically sound and frequently used term, predominantly found in News & Media, Science and Academia contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, highlighting its function as a noun phrase identifying an earlier trial. It's used for contextualization and comparison. When writing, ensure that the verb tense accurately reflects the past nature of the trial. Alternatives such as "prior trial" or "earlier trial" offer slight variations in formality. Remember to use "the" when referring to a specific previously mentioned trial, and "a" when introducing the concept in general.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prior trial

Replaces "previous" with "prior", maintaining the same meaning with a slightly more formal tone.

earlier trial

Substitutes "previous" with "earlier", indicating a trial that happened at an earlier time.

preceding trial

Uses "preceding" instead of "previous", suggesting a trial that came immediately before the current one.

former trial

Replaces "previous" with "former", indicating a trial that occurred in the past.

past trial

Uses "past" instead of "previous", simply denoting a trial that has already taken place.

initial trial

Refers to the first trial in a series, implying that there are subsequent trials.

first trial

Similar to "initial trial", specifically indicating the very first trial.

earlier legal proceeding

Offers a more formal and general term for a trial that happened before.

original trial

Indicates the initial trial, especially when referring to retrials or appeals.

previous court case

Replaces "trial" with "court case", broadening the context to any legal case.

FAQs

How is "previous trial" different from "subsequent trial"?

"Previous trial" refers to a trial that happened before the current one, while "subsequent trial" refers to a trial that will happen after the current one. They denote opposite positions in a sequence of trials.

What are some synonyms for "previous trial"?

Alternatives include "prior trial", "earlier trial", or "former trial", depending on the desired level of formality and context.

Is it correct to say "the previous trial" or "a previous trial"?

Both are correct depending on the context. Use "the previous trial" when referring to a specific trial that has already been mentioned. Use "a previous trial" when introducing the concept of a past trial in general.

Can "previous trial" refer to something other than a legal proceeding?

While most commonly used in legal contexts, "previous trial" can also refer to earlier attempts in experiments or tests, such as in scientific research or product development. The term "trial" indicates an attempt or test.