previously chosen

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "previously chosen" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to refer to something that was selected or decided upon at an earlier time. For example, "The previously chosen option was deemed the most effective." Alternative expressions include "earlier selected" and "formerly picked."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But when the sneaky rejected source gets too similar, the previously chosen one changes drastically.

The New York Times - Arts

He had previously chosen to stay out of the news, remaining anonymous.

The Washington Post

If one is profitable, it is chosen, and one of the previously chosen ones is eliminated.

Stanford University

When an airline automatically assigns aisle seats to customers who have previously chosen them, it is using a persistent default.

Harvard Business Review

They wrote the same 366 words from a previously chosen script over 4 hours, taking breaks in between.

MIT Technology Review

He subtracts this and subsequent scores from a previously chosen number, usually 301 or 501.

Encyclopedia Britannica

First, the backward-looking conception of legitimacy sees organization as instrumental to previously chosen values and goals.

Columbia University

At successive iterations, (s)he always sees points which improve all the objective values achieved by the previously chosen point.

European Journal of Operational Research

The new contest will present contestants with demographic and behavioral data, including renters' ages, gender, ZIP codes, genre ratings and previously chosen movies — but not ratings.

The New York Times - Tech

Mass Mutual, the production's major sponsor, "went along with the previously chosen play, but Mr. Copes said he preferred something more topical, a little less safe.

The New York Times

Having previously chosen not to overpay for PwC Consulting, HP may soon feel the need to look for another consultancy.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "previously chosen" as a compound modifier before a noun, such as in "the previously chosen script", do not use a hyphen. According to standard style guides, adverbs ending in -ly are not hyphenated when paired with participles.

Common error

Avoid using "previously chosen" alongside other redundant time-based phrases like "chosen previously in the past". The adverb "previously" already establishes the past context, so adding more temporal indicators creates clutter without adding meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "previously chosen" functions as an adjectival phrase composed of the temporal adverb "previously" and the past participle "chosen". In many instances found in Ludwig, it serves to modify a noun (e.g., "previously chosen path") or acts as the complement in a passive construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Social Media

3%

Informal

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "previously chosen" is a staple of clear English writing, used to denote an earlier selection or decision. According to Ludwig AI, it appears with high frequency across a wide spectrum of prestigious sources, from The New York Times to academic publications like Nature. It is grammatically robust and serves a vital role in technical and analytical writing by providing temporal context for choices. Writers should remember to avoid hyphenating the phrase and to ensure that its use does not lead to temporal redundancy within the same sentence. Whether used in a scientific report or a news article, it remains a precise and professional way to reference past actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

formerly selected

Increased formality, often used in official or legal contexts.

pre-selected

Implies the choice was made in advance of a specific event or criteria.

earlier picked

More informal and conversational tone.

already decided upon

Emphasizes the conclusion of a decision-making process.

formerly opted for

Focuses on the preference or volition of the chooser.

priorly designated

Suggests a formal assignment or specific naming process.

previously identified

Focuses on the act of recognition rather than just choice.

previously appointed

Specific to individuals being placed in a role or office.

once chosen

Focuses on the temporal fact that a choice occurred at one point.

erstwhile favored

Archaic or literary variation indicating past preference.

FAQs

How to use "previously chosen" in a sentence?

You can use "previously chosen" to describe something selected earlier, such as: "The committee returned to the <a href="/s/previously+chosen" target="_blank" rel="alternative">previously chosen strategy after the new one failed."

Is it correct to hyphenate "previously-chosen"?

No, you should not hyphenate it. Since "previously" is an adverb ending in -ly, it clearly modifies the participle without needing a hyphen for clarity.

What can I say instead of "previously chosen"?

Depending on your tone, you can use "<a href="/s/formerly+selected" target="_blank" rel="alternative">formerly selected" for more formality or "<a href="/s/pre-selected" target="_blank" rel="alternative">pre-selected" if the choice was made specifically in advance.

What is the difference between "previously chosen" and "formerly chosen"?

While very similar, "<a href="/s/formerly+chosen" target="_blank" rel="alternative">formerly chosen" often implies that the choice is no longer in effect, whereas "previously chosen" simply notes the timing of the selection.