previously to that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "previously to that" is not standard in written English; the correct form is "prior to that." You can use it when referring to an event or situation that occurred before another specified time or event.
Example: "Prior to that, we had conducted several meetings to discuss the project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"Previously to that had you ever seen them?" Mr. Weinglass asked.

The New York Times

Previously to that, it was valued at a mere $320 million in 2016.

TechCrunch

"The subject was related to an email I had sent previously to that person so the attacker had clearly got access to his mailbox or the mail server," the victim said.

TechCrunch

There's sometimes hidden messages and hidden charms that people can explore visually that previously to that they never thought about".

Vice

Previously to that, they exclusively reissued the soundtracks to Dirty Dancing, The Goonies, Footloose, Rocky IV and Top Gun on vinyl, and during the summer they offered a buy-two-get-one-free deal.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

I had pointed out previously to men that some of things they say on dates aren't particularly wise.

Huffington Post

But all other searches that would previously lead to that page will still lead to it.

The Guardian - Tech

Once it does, it starts playing the music that you previously linked to that specific tag.

TechCrunch

Speak to other businesspeople who have previously been to that country on business and ask them for advice.

Forbes

Therearticle originally appeared on VICE UK.

Vice

I had previously donated money to that charity".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for "prior to that" or "before that" for clearer and more grammatically correct communication.

Common error

Relying on less conventional phrases like "previously to that" can distract readers. Choose direct and standard wording to maintain a professional tone and avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "previously to that" functions as an adverbial phrase, aiming to indicate a temporal relationship between events. It tries to specify that an action or state occurred before a specific point of reference. However, Ludwig indicates it's not a standard form.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while "previously to that" aims to connect events in time, it's not considered standard English. As Ludwig notes, this phrase is best replaced with alternatives like "prior to that" or "before that" for improved clarity and grammatical correctness. Using these alternatives will ensure more professional and easily understood communication. While found in a variety of sources, it remains relatively rare and leans towards informal usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prior to that

Replaces "previously" with "prior", resulting in a more grammatically accepted and formal alternative.

before that

A more concise and straightforward way of indicating a preceding event or situation.

earlier than that

Focuses on the temporal aspect, emphasizing that something happened at an earlier time.

in the past

General reference to something that happened at an unspecific time before the current moment.

formerly

Adverb that suggests a previous state or condition.

previously

Concise adverb indicating something occurred at an earlier time. (Without the 'to that').

in earlier times

Phrases it in a more expressive way. May be useful for storytelling purposes.

at an earlier date

Emphasizes the specific time aspect of what happened earlier.

in days gone by

Offers a somewhat antiquated phrasing, suitable for historical or nostalgic contexts.

in retrospect

Changes the perspective to looking back on an event, which slightly alters the original meaning.

FAQs

What's a more grammatically sound alternative to "previously to that"?

Use "prior to that" or simply "before that" for better clarity and grammatical correctness.

Is "previously to that" considered formal English?

No, "previously to that" is not considered formal. It's better to use "prior to that" in formal contexts.

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

Example: "The data was collected over several months; prior to that, a pilot study was conducted."

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

"Previously" alone is a more concise and grammatically accepted way to indicate something happened earlier. "Previously to that" is unnecessarily wordy.