previously agreed upon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "previously agreed upon" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that has been decided or accepted in a prior discussion or agreement. Example: "We will proceed with the project based on the terms that were previously agreed upon during our last meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

Several revolutionary bands, including that of Emiliano Zapata, resisted the military demobilization previously agreed upon.

Britannica

The car would then be offered to him by the dealer at a price previously agreed upon between the dealer and the discounter.

Cornell University

Una struggled with how her community could block, via previously agreed upon consensus process, an effort to increase the safety of everyone within it.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"The total catch is now far in excess of what has been scientifically recommended and previously agreed upon by all participating countries.

The Guardian

Colin L. Powell, the secretary of state, turned to General Zinni, who has retired from the Marine Corps, to coax the two sides to resume formal steps toward negotiations, steps they previously agreed upon.

The New York Times

The new goals are in addition to a major initiative the states and the agency previously agreed upon to reduce nitrogen emissions into the Sound by 58.5percentt by the 2014 deadline.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

Previously agreed-upon pensions had to be guaranteed.

The New York Times

He said Tuesday's session deteriorated when the union reneged on previously agreed-upon points.

The New York Times - Sports

In legal services, both Summit Law Group, in Seattle, and Valorem Law Group, in Chicago and San Jose, California, feature "value adjustment lines" on their bills, allowing clients to make any type of adjustment on previously agreed-upon fees.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The union rejected CPS's offer of a 2percentt pay raise in exchange for a longer school day in August after the Board rejected their previously agreed-upon, 4percentt cost-of-living raise.

Huffington Post

Mr. Monti, Mrs. Merkel and President Nicolas Sarkozy of France spoke on Thursday and, in a joint statement, agreed on the need to accelerate previously agreed-upon measures to ensure financial stability and growth in the euro zone, Reuters reported.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "previously agreed upon", ensure that the context clearly indicates what was agreed upon and when it was agreed upon. This adds clarity and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid assuming that everyone is aware of the "previously agreed upon" terms. Briefly reiterate the key points to ensure alignment and avoid misunderstandings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "previously agreed upon" functions as an adjectival modifier describing something (e.g., terms, conditions, plans) that has been subjected to a prior agreement. It indicates that a certain decision or arrangement was made and accepted at an earlier time. This aligns with examples found by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Academia

20%

Science

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "previously agreed upon" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to reference a prior agreement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves to clarify that something was decided earlier, ensuring mutual understanding and preventing ambiguity. While alternatives like "previously stipulated" or "earlier concurred" exist, "previously agreed upon" remains a versatile choice for both formal and informal communication. Remember to clarify the specifics of what was agreed upon to avoid any misunderstandings. Its frequency across news, academic, and scientific sources makes it a reliable option for various writing contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previously consented to

Replaces "agreed upon" with "consented to", indicating a formal agreement or permission was given.

previously stipulated

Uses "stipulated" instead of "agreed upon", suggesting a condition or requirement that was specified beforehand.

previously arranged

Substitutes "agreed upon" with "arranged", implying a plan or preparation made earlier.

previously settled

Replaces "agreed upon" with "settled", suggesting a resolution or conclusion reached in the past.

mutually decided beforehand

Emphasizes the mutual aspect of the decision, specifying that it happened "beforehand".

earlier concurred

Uses "concurred" instead of "agreed", indicating a formal agreement or alignment of opinions.

previously determined

Substitutes "agreed upon" with "determined", implying a firm decision or conclusion was reached in the past.

previously understood

Replaces "agreed upon" with "understood", suggesting an implicit agreement or common understanding.

formally approved beforehand

Highlights the formal aspect of the approval, emphasizing that it happened "beforehand".

previously authorized

Uses "authorized" instead of "agreed upon", indicating that something received official permission or approval earlier.

FAQs

How can I use "previously agreed upon" in a sentence?

You can use "previously agreed upon" to refer to terms, conditions, or plans that have been decided on earlier. For example: "The project will proceed according to the "previously agreed upon" timeline."

What are some alternatives to "previously agreed upon"?

Alternatives include "previously stipulated", "previously arranged", or "mutually decided beforehand" depending on the specific context.

Is it redundant to say "previously agreed upon"?

While "agreed upon" already implies a prior agreement, using "previously agreed upon" can add emphasis or clarity, especially when distinguishing from potential current agreements.

How does "previously agreed upon" differ from "already agreed upon"?

"Previously agreed upon" emphasizes that the agreement was made at an earlier point in time, while "already agreed upon" focuses on the current state of having an agreement in place. The choice depends on whether you want to highlight the timing or the status of the agreement.