prior remarks

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prior remarks" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to comments or statements made earlier in a conversation or text. Example: "In light of the prior remarks made during the meeting, we should reconsider our approach to the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

They often quote prior remarks by Mr. Parker, so much of the grilling is directly addressed to him.

The New York Times

Like many Christians who support their gay and lesbian friends, I'd hoped Giglio would release a statement apologizing for his prior remarks.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"How foolish of me not to realize that the open sludge flowing past the children is the way the system is supposed to work," Prior remarked.

The New Yorker

In a letter to Scott, written after Lemmon's death in 1966, Prior remarked: "What Geach contributed was not the interpretation of [U] as a relation between worlds (God knows when that started), but the interpretation of [U] as a relation of accessibility".

SEP

WIlliams looked visibly insulted from Snooki's prior remark, and the audience started to laugh nervously.

Huffington Post

Ellison has been attacked for his prior positive remarks about the Nation of Islam's Louis Farrakhan, a charge that was also made against Obama early in his career, a precursor to an Islamophobic campaign that would dog Obama throughout his presidency.

Huffington Post

A male second year student who also estimated his time commitment at more than 100 hours in the prior year remarked: "I got involved primarily because I have a phenomenal advisor.

BMC Medical Education

Prior's scathing remarks risk being seen as NHS bashing by staff and appear to show that he believes too little has been achieved since the Francis report 18 months ago into the Mid Staffs scandal triggered a blizzard of moves to improve care and safety.

The Guardian

According to the Des Moines Register, Pence made the remarks prior to delivering a speech about President Donald Trump's tax-cutting agenda in Des Moines.

Huffington Post

After a private meeting with a group of sexual abuse victims in Philadelphia, Pope Francis delivered off-script remarks prior to his speech to a group of priests and seminarians on Sunday, pledging "all responsible will be held accountable".

Vice

Rove knows this: he goes to great length in his remarks prior to this exchange noting that the decision lies entirely with the DNC's credentials committee and that DNC chair Howard Dean has "signaled clearly by picking 25 loyalists, and they are clearly Dean loyalists, that he intends to have a majority of this committee that will back him up on what he decides on Florida and Michigan".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the formality of the situation. "Prior remarks" can be suitable for neutral to formal contexts. For very informal settings, consider simpler alternatives like "what was said before".

Common error

Avoid using "prior remarks" in casual conversations. It can sound overly formal or stilted. Opt for phrases like "what you said earlier" or "before" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prior remarks" functions as a noun phrase, acting as the object of a verb or the subject of a sentence. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability. Examples show it referring to previously made statements or comments.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "prior remarks" is a grammatically sound way to refer to previously made statements. Ludwig indicates it's usable in written English. While not exceedingly common, it finds use in news, science and business contexts. When using it, ensure clarity regarding what "prior" references and be mindful of the level of formality required. Alternatives such as "previous statements" or "earlier comments" can be more suitable in certain contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previous statements

Replaces "remarks" with the more formal "statements".

earlier comments

Substitutes "remarks" with "comments", indicating a less formal tone.

preceding observations

Uses "observations" to refer to something that was noticed or stated before.

aforementioned statements

Replaces "prior" with "aforementioned", indicating the statements have already been mentioned.

past utterances

Employs "utterances" to denote spoken words, often in a formal context.

initial assertions

Uses "assertions" to mean confident and forceful statements of fact or belief.

antecedent declarations

Replaces both words with more formal synonyms, indicating a formal context.

preliminary notes

Changes the scope to include written material, like notes taken earlier.

earlier pronouncements

Uses a more formal word, "pronouncements", suggesting importance.

foregoing speech

Indicates speech that occurred immediately before another.

FAQs

What's a simple way to rephrase "prior remarks"?

Consider using phrases like "earlier comments" or "previous statements" as alternatives to "prior remarks". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

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

You might say, "In light of the "prior remarks" from the CEO, we have adjusted our strategy" or "The committee reviewed the "prior remarks" before making a final decision".

What's the difference between "prior remarks" and "previous comments"?

"Prior remarks" and "previous comments" are similar, but "previous comments" may sound slightly less formal. "Prior" implies a known sequence or order.

Are there more formal alternatives to "prior remarks"?

Yes, you could use phrases like "aforementioned statements" or "antecedent declarations" for more formal contexts. However, ensure these alternatives fit the overall tone and are easily understood.