previously because

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "previously because" is not correct and does not form a coherent expression in written English.
It is unclear and lacks context, making it difficult to determine when it could be used effectively. Example: "I had to leave the meeting early previously because of a prior commitment."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Beamonte was cautious about answering questions about whether customers might have been exposed to contaminated meat previously because of Silvercrest practices.

The Guardian - Business

Networks have passed on debate coverage several times previously because of commitments to baseball.

The New York Times - Arts

She feels she is playing her role better than previously because American audience respond so warmly.

The New Yorker

This role had escaped detection previously because there was no reason to assume that sir2 required NAD as a cofactor.

The New York Times - Science

Ms. Rey says she skipped that step previously because she was in financial straits and needed to find a way to make ends meet quickly.

The New York Times

He said Mr Williams had been known to the police previously because of a "number of domestic incidents between the couple".

The Guardian

Turnover increased in the 14 months to the end of March, compared with the 12-month period previously, because the smaller stores were included.

The Guardian - Business

Devout Somalis now realized that the Shabaab and Al Qaeda had exploited their faith; previously, because of their isolation, they had not fully understood this, he said.

The New Yorker

The rest was a pile of bricks, the buildings having been demolished five years previously because they were in such a dangerous condition.

The Guardian

Grass says he had not spoken out previously because his nationality "forbade" it: any German breaking the silence on the Israel nuclear programme may be accused of antisemitism.

The Guardian - Opinion

But they suggested that even agreement to create a to-do list would have been difficult previously because of wide gaps between the sides.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "previously because" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives such as "previously, due to" or "earlier, because of".

Common error

Using "previously because" can create sentences that sound awkward and may confuse readers. Ensure that your sentences clearly connect the timing and the reason by using a comma or rephrasing the sentence entirely.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "previously because" functions as a causal connector, attempting to link a past event with its reason. However, Ludwig AI indicates that it is not grammatically correct, suggesting a need for alternatives for clearer communication. Examples in Ludwig show its use across various domains, but the underlying grammatical issue persists.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

4%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "previously because" appears frequently across various sources like news, science, and encyclopedias, it is considered grammatically incorrect by Ludwig AI. Its purpose is to connect a past event with its cause, but its structure is awkward. Therefore, it is recommended to use clearer alternatives such as "previously, due to", "earlier because of", or restructure the sentence for improved readability and grammatical correctness. While its frequency might make it seem acceptable, formal writing should avoid this construction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

beforehand due to

Replaces "previously" with "beforehand" and uses "due to" instead of "because" for a smoother flow.

earlier on account of

Substitutes "previously" with "earlier" and uses "on account of" as a causal connector.

in the past as a result of

Rephrases "previously" to "in the past" and "because" to "as a result of", adding formality.

formerly owing to

Uses "formerly" in place of "previously" and "owing to" instead of "because", slightly increasing formality.

before that, since

Splits the phrase into two parts, using "before that" to indicate time and "since" to indicate cause.

prior to that, given that

Similar to the previous alternative, but uses more formal language.

previously, as

Replaces "because" with "as", maintaining a similar causal relationship but with a slightly different structure.

before, considering that

Uses "before" for time and "considering that" for the reason, adding a more contemplative tone.

at an earlier time because

Expands "previously" to "at an earlier time", keeping "because" but making the phrase longer.

in earlier times, for the reason that

More elaborate phrasing of both time and reason, suitable for formal contexts.

FAQs

Is "previously because" grammatically correct?

No, "previously because" is not considered grammatically correct. It's better to use phrases like "previously, due to" or "earlier because of".

What are some alternatives to "previously because"?

Alternatives include "beforehand due to", "earlier on account of", or restructuring the sentence for clarity.

How can I use "because" correctly with a time reference?

When indicating time and reason, separate them clearly. For example, use "Previously, this was the case because..." or "This happened earlier because..." for better readability.

Why is "previously because" considered awkward?

The construction "previously because" combines an adverb of time with a conjunction of cause without a clear separation, making the sentence structure less clear. Separating them with a comma or rephrasing enhances clarity.