previously to

USAGE SUMMARY

"previously to" is not a correct form of English.
You cannot use it in written English. A correct form of the phrase would be "prior to," as in: "I had not spoken to him prior to the meeting."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

VSV has been used previously to develop vaccines.

The Economist

Durham police appealed for victims who had not come forward previously to do so now.

The Guardian

And it has removed reproductions that were used previously to represent certain rarer, "old master" designs.

The New York Times

Another man had been handed over previously to the border agency for deportation.

The New York Times

She'd tried previously to find Ellison's tomb according to the cemetery map, but hadn't been successful.

The New Yorker

And you have to have met the right people previously, to make anything happen".

The New York Times

The only black actor previously to have attempted it was Ira Aldridge.

The Guardian

And the only drama happening previously to this point was my laptop battery almost dying.

The Guardian - Music

New research strengthens the case for the 30% target set previously to now be raised.

The Guardian

They were previously to be seen on Channel 4 on The F***ing Fulfords.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Previously, to keep their full pensions, retirees under 65 had to earn $30,000 or less annually.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for "prior to" or "before" in formal writing to ensure grammatical correctness. Although "previously to" is frequently used, it is considered incorrect by many style guides.

Common error

Avoid using "previously to" as it incorrectly combines an adverb with a preposition. Use "prior to" or simply "before" instead. For example, instead of saying "Previously to the meeting, I reviewed the documents", say "Prior to the meeting, I reviewed the documents" or "Before the meeting, I reviewed the documents".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "previously to" functions as a prepositional phrase intended to indicate a temporal relationship, specifying that something occurred before a certain point in time. However, Ludwig AI points out that it is not a correct form of English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "previously to" is frequently used across various contexts, as shown by Ludwig's examples, including Science, News & Media, and Formal & Business writing. However, it is considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI recommends using the more acceptable alternative, "prior to", or simply "before". Although common, especially in informal settings, writers should opt for grammatically sound alternatives in formal writing to maintain clarity and credibility. Remember that while frequency indicates common usage, it doesn't guarantee grammatical correctness. Always prioritize accurate language in professional or academic contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prior to

More formal and grammatically correct alternative using "prior" instead of "previously".

previous to

While close, "previous to" is still often considered less formal than "prior to".

before

A simple and direct synonym, omitting "to" for conciseness.

in advance of

Emphasizes preparation or anticipation before a specific event or time.

ahead of

Similar to "before", but suggests being further along in time.

earlier than

Explicitly indicates a time comparison.

preceding

A more formal and literary term indicating something that comes before.

antecedent to

Highlights a cause-and-effect relationship where the first event influences the second.

leading up to

Focuses on the events or period immediately before something.

in anticipation of

Suggests preparation or expectation for a future event.

FAQs

What is a grammatically correct alternative to "previously to"?

The grammatically correct alternative to "previously to" is "prior to". You can also use "before" in many contexts.

Is "previously to" considered formal or informal?

While frequently used, "previously to" is generally considered grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. "Prior to" is a more appropriate choice for formal contexts.

How can I use "prior to" in a sentence?

You can use "prior to" to indicate something that happened or existed before something else. For example, "Prior to the invention of the internet, information was much harder to access."

What's the difference between "previously" and "previously to"?

"Previously" is an adverb that can stand alone to indicate something happened at an earlier time. "Previously to", while commonly used, is grammatically incorrect. Use "prior to" or simply "before" instead.