prior phase

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prior phase" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to an earlier stage or step in a process or sequence of events. Example: "Before we move on to the next step, let's review the findings from the prior phase of the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

The company also set up a funding mechanism for projects inspired by venture capital processes: projects were funded in phases and progressed to the next phase only if it proved its worth in the prior phase.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Finally, Larry E. Greiner proposed a model of corporate evolution in which business organizations move through five phases of growth as they make the transition from small to large (in sales and employees) and from young to mature.|| Each phase is distinguished by an evolution from the prior phase and then by a revolution or crisis, which precipitates a jump into the next phase.

Harvard Business Review

The study followed RA patients who failed at least one disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) who were enrolled in a prior phase I/II dose-ranging trial.

Autoimmunity Highlights

Some have suggested that since we cannot "exclude the possibility of a prior phase of existence" (Silk 2001, 63), it is possible that the universe has cycled through oscillations, perhaps infinitely, so that Big Bangs occurred not once but an infinite number of times in the past and will do so in the future.

SEP

This investigation adds to the evidence from two prior phase 3 studies of similar design, in which armodafinil 150 mg/day, adjunctive to protocol-allowed mood stabilizers, provided statistically significant improvement in at least some measures of depressive symptoms associated with bipolar I disorder (Study 3071; NCT01072929 and Study 3072; NCT01072630) (Calabrese et al. 2014; Ketter et al. 2015).

International Journal of Bipolar Disorders

Although armodafinil was generally well tolerated in this and prior phase 3 studies, the lack of statistically significant efficacy on the primary outcome in two of three studies has led to the discontinuation of the development program for adjunctive armodafinil in bipolar I depression.

International Journal of Bipolar Disorders

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

In NCJT, a user's signal is transmitted by multiple cooperating BSs without prior phase-mismatch correction and tight synchronization across BSs.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

JT/JP can operate coherently as well as non-coherently, where in the latter, the transmissions to a user carry the same signal but without prior phase-alignment and tight synchronization, making it less of a burden on the back-haul.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

At prior phases of the legal process, a WTO Panel and the Appellate Body had sided with Canada and Mexico by finding that the US regulation had negatively affected their exports of livestock – cattle and hogs – to the US market.

Duke University

The selection of the tofacitinib 10-mg BID dose was based on the prior phase-2 and phase-3 studies of tofacitinib in RA.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

No sucrose was delivered during these sessions but, as in prior phases, the (empty) dipper was activated after each test presentation of the light.

Animal Cognition

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing formally, use "prior phase" to clearly indicate a specific stage that occurred before the current one. This ensures clarity and precision in technical, scientific, or business contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "prior phase" in casual conversation or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "previous stage" or "earlier phase" are often more appropriate and sound less pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prior phase" functions as a noun phrase, often used as an adjective to modify another noun. It typically identifies a specific stage or period that occurred before the current one, providing context or reference for understanding the present situation. Ludwig shows numerous examples in scientific and academic contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

75%

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

News & Media

5%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "prior phase" is a common and grammatically sound way to refer to an earlier stage in a process or sequence. As Ludwig highlights, its usage is particularly prevalent in scientific and academic writing, where it serves to provide context and establish connections between different stages of research or development. While "prior phase" is generally appropriate for formal contexts, simpler alternatives such as "previous stage" or "earlier phase" may be more suitable for informal settings. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and very usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previous stage

Refers to an earlier point in a process or sequence.

earlier phase

Highlights the temporal aspect of being before the current phase.

preceding stage

Emphasizes the order of events, indicating what comes immediately before.

former phase

Indicates a phase that existed in the past but is no longer active.

initial stage

Focuses on the beginning or starting point of a process.

previous step

Highlights a single action within a larger process that occurred before the current one.

earlier step

Similar to 'previous step', but emphasizes the temporal aspect.

initial period

Refers to the starting time frame of an event or process.

preliminary stage

Emphasizes that the phase was preparatory or introductory.

antecedent phase

Highlights a phase that precedes another and potentially influences it.

FAQs

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

You can use "prior phase" to refer to an earlier stage in a process, such as, "The results from the "prior phase" of the experiment influenced our current methodology."

What are some alternatives to "prior phase"?

Alternatives include "previous stage", "earlier phase", or "preceding stage". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "prior phase" formal or informal?

"Prior phase" leans towards a more formal register. In less formal settings, using phrases like "previous stage" or "earlier part" might be more suitable.

When is it appropriate to use "prior phase" instead of "previous phase"?

While both are acceptable, "prior phase" often appears in more technical or scientific contexts, whereas "previous phase" is generally suitable for broader use.