previously than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "previously than" is not correct and not usable in written English.
It is a combination of two comparative terms that do not work together properly. Example: "She arrived previously than expected" should be corrected to "She arrived earlier than expected."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Weekly wheat-price rises in July were no larger, compared with four weeks previously, than those during May or November 2009.

The Economist

Considering that the chromium was deposited on a 300- to 330-nm-thick resist film, this result implies that an even higher AR (≥12 1) may have been obtained previously than observed (≥9 1) during cross-sectional SEM due to the fragility of the resist.

Nanoscale Research Letters

--You're more likely to vote if you're married (or have been married previously) than if you're single.

Huffington Post

This might due to the fact that adults usually do not go to hospital at the beginning of their illness, so samples were collected from them later than from younger patients, and older patients are more likely to have experienced dengue infection previously than younger patients.

Plosone

The patients visiting the hospital more often were likely to receive the same medications that they received previously than patients visiting the hospital less often.

BMC Health Services Research

Overall, people with PBC were 50% more likely to have had a UTI previously than their matched controls; this relationship was maintained five years prior to diagnosis.

BMC Gastroenterology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

"I would rather be tastefully silent," she has previously said, than write a bad book.

The Guardian - Books

Previously, more than 40 states had accepted the applicants' written statements as proof of citizenship unless the claims seemed questionable.

The New York Times

Previously more than 1,500 employees took the buyouts, which included cash, health care and some flight benefits.

The New York Times

Distances moved by this species were greater than previously recorded and further than predicted by flight morphology.

Biological Conservation

"It suggests that income was lower than previously thought and consumers are more stressed than we previously thought".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "previously than" in your writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "earlier than" or "before" to ensure clarity and accuracy.

Common error

The error with "previously than" arises from combining the adverb "previously", which already implies a comparison to an earlier time, with the comparative conjunction "than". Correct this by using "earlier than" or simply "before".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "previously than" is an attempt to create a comparative structure indicating that something occurred before something else. However, Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "previously than" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is a combination of comparative terms that do not function correctly together. Instead, it is best to use alternatives such as "earlier than", "before", or other similar phrases to ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy. This correction is relevant across various contexts, as the phrase's incorrect structure makes it unsuitable for any formal or informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

earlier than

Replaces "previously" with "earlier" to create a grammatically correct comparative phrase.

before

A simpler way to indicate precedence, replacing the comparative structure.

prior to

A more formal way to say "before", suitable for professional or academic contexts.

in advance of

Similar to "prior to", but emphasizes preparation or anticipation.

sooner than

Focuses on the timing aspect, indicating that something happened or will happen earlier.

ahead of

Implies being in front of something else in time or sequence.

in anticipation of

Highlights the expectation of a future event, influencing current actions.

preceding

A formal term indicating something that comes immediately before something else.

antecedent to

A more technical or legal term for something that precedes and influences a later event.

up until

Indicates a duration of time leading to a specific point.

FAQs

How to avoid using "previously than" in a sentence?

Instead of "previously than", use alternatives like "earlier than", "before", or "prior to" depending on the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "previously than" and "earlier than"?

"Previously than" is grammatically incorrect. "Earlier than" is the correct way to express that something happened or existed before something else.

Is "previously than" ever considered correct in English?

No, "previously than" is not considered correct in standard English. Use "earlier than" or a similar alternative instead.

What are some formal alternatives to "previously than"?

Formal alternatives include "prior to", "in advance of", or simply restructuring the sentence to use "before".