previously sold

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "previously sold" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to items or products that have been sold at an earlier time. Example: "The store is now offering a discount on items that were previously sold at full price."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Previously sold policies remain valid.

The New York Times - Travel

Producers have been buying back gold they had previously sold.

The Economist

(b) The Book has not been previously sold and/or held under contract.

The New Yorker

Last year it closed the Offaly Express in Tullamore, having previously sold off the Tallaght Echo.

The Guardian

In any case, no American song had previously sold more than five thousand copies.

The New Yorker

Their counselor must submit their biographical information, including whether they have previously sold payments.

The Washington Post

Previously sold as the Matiz, it is a product of GM-Daewoo in South Korea.

The Washington Post

It had previously sold its own devices based on this technology, including the Que e-reader.

MIT Technology Review

Heritage, he added, has not to his knowledge previously sold one of the original buckles.

The New York Times

He had previously sold furniture in St Petersburg and served as a tax minister.

The Economist

They were previously sold for $124.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a property's history, use "previously sold" to indicate a past transaction, providing context for its current market value or condition.

Common error

Don't use "previously sold" without specifying a timeframe when relevant. Saying "the house was previously sold" is less informative than "the house was previously sold in 2010".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "previously sold" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It describes something that has been sold at an earlier time. Ludwig AI validates this usage, providing numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

22%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "previously sold" is a grammatically sound and frequently used term to describe items or properties that have been sold at some point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions as an adjectival phrase, providing historical context, and is commonly found in news and business contexts. While various alternatives exist, such as ""formerly sold"" or ""sold before"", "previously sold" offers clarity and is broadly accepted. When using this phrase, provide specific timeframes for better context, and ensure accuracy in describing past transactions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

formerly sold

Replaces "previously" with "formerly", indicating a past state of being sold.

sold before

Uses a more straightforward construction to indicate a sale that occurred earlier.

earlier sold

Emphasizes the time element by using "earlier" to specify the prior sale.

previously owned and sold

Adds the aspect of ownership before the sale, giving more information.

once sold

Highlights that the item or property was sold at least one time in the past.

sold in the past

Clearly indicates that the sale happened at some point in the past.

already sold

Implies the item is no longer available because it has been sold.

previously marketed

Focuses on the marketing aspect of selling the product.

prior sale

Refers to the sale event itself that occurred before the current time.

re-sold

Suggests an item has been sold, then acquired, and sold again.

FAQs

How can I use "previously sold" in a sentence?

You can use "previously sold" to describe an item or property that has been sold before. For example, "The car was "previously sold" at auction".

What's a synonym for "previously sold"?

Alternatives include "formerly sold", "sold before", or "earlier sold" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "previously sold item"?

Yes, "previously sold item" is grammatically correct and commonly used to refer to an item that was sold at an earlier time.

What is the difference between "previously sold" and "currently for sale"?

"Previously sold" refers to something that has already been sold, while "currently for sale" means something that is now available for purchase. They are opposite in meaning.