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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
prior going
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
"prior going" is not a correct phrase in written English.
It does not make grammatical sense. The correct phrase would be "before going." For example: Before going to the store, I need to make a shopping list.
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
News & Media
Science
Wiki
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
7 human-written examples
Prior, going with both hands, shelled it.
News & Media
Are Trott and Prior going to come back?
News & Media
Not to worry, they were back home for the next game and had their new No. 1 pitcher, Prior, going with a well-rested right arm.
News & Media
Epic has been been far more aggressive in pricing their engine licensing lately than they have in years prior, going as far as to give it away for free for noncommercial/educational use.
News & Media
CEA (the company behind CES) boasts that CES has more exhibitors this year 3100++) than any year prior, going so far as to say that they're searching for alternative venues outside of Vegas with more room for more exhibitors — as if that's a good thing.
News & Media
To monitor this, participants and carers will be asked to record the time when the actigraph was put on each day, any periods when it was removed, and the time it was removed prior going to bed.
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
53 human-written examples
From South Shore school, Prior went into the RAF.
News & Media
Prior goes on to say, "We will be citizens.
News & Media
The Cubs were terrible that year, needing three managers to get through the season, and Prior went 6-6 in 19 starts.
News & Media
Then Prior went to cut Zaheer Khan at the other end, and edged behind - England's second departure in the space of seven balls.
News & Media
Twain and Lange continued to collaborate on her subsequent albums Come on Over (1997) and Up! (2002); the prior went on to sell over 40 million copies worldwide and became the best-selling album by a female artist.
Wiki
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Always use the correct preposition "before" or "prior to" when indicating something happening earlier in time. "Prior going" is grammatically incorrect.
Common error
Avoid using "prior" directly before a gerund (verb ending in -ing). Instead, use "prior to" followed by the gerund, or simply use "before". For example, say "prior to going" or "before going", not "prior going".
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "prior going" functions as an attempt to describe an action occurring before another. However, it is grammatically incorrect because "prior" requires the preposition "to" when used in this context. Ludwig AI confirms this grammatical error.
Frequent in
News & Media
43%
Science
43%
Wiki
14%
Less common in
Formal & Business
0%
Academia
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "prior going" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. The correct alternatives are "before going" or "prior to going", with the latter being more formal. Ludwig AI highlights that while the intent is to indicate a temporal sequence, the phrase's grammatical error detracts from its effectiveness. Remember to use "prior to" instead of just "prior" when followed by a gerund to maintain grammatical accuracy.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
before going
Replaces "prior going" with a grammatically correct and more common alternative.
previous to going
Offers a more formal substitute while maintaining the original meaning.
ahead of going
Provides a slightly less formal alternative conveying the same temporal relationship.
in anticipation of going
Emphasizes the preparation aspect of doing something before a future event.
leading up to going
Focuses on the period immediately preceding the action of going.
preceding the trip
Uses 'trip' as a replacement for the general term 'going', suited for travel contexts.
beforehand
Simple and direct adverb indicating something done earlier.
in advance
Similar to 'beforehand', but can emphasize preparation and planning.
on the eve of departure
Replaces "going" with the more specific "departure", appropriate for formal contexts.
before setting off
Emphasizes the start of a journey or activity.
FAQs
What is the correct way to say "prior going"?
The correct way to express the idea of something happening before going is to use "before going" or "prior to going". The phrase "prior going" is not grammatically correct.
Is "prior going" grammatically correct?
No, "prior going" is not grammatically correct. You should use "before going" or "prior to going" instead.
What's the difference between "prior to going" and "before going"?
"Prior to going" and "before going" have similar meanings, but "prior to" is generally considered more formal. "Before going" is more commonly used in everyday conversation.
Can I use "prior" in place of "before" when followed by a verb ending in '-ing'?
No, you cannot directly use "prior" before a verb ending in '-ing'. You need to include the preposition "to", making it "prior to". Alternatively, you can simply use "before going".
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested