prior to calling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prior to calling" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to some form of communication that will occur after the present moment. For example, "Please gather all the necessary information prior to calling the customer service center."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

A calling frog typically inflates his sac or sacs prior to calling or simultaneously with the production of the first call.

Encyclopedia Britannica

On Monday all hell broke loose as the squatters now decided that they own the rhino and they want the trophy fee for these animals and we should have consulted with them prior to calling the vet and National Parks.

The New Yorker

The frequency bandwidth of alarms was reliably influenced by degree of vigilance prior to calling, suggesting that this acoustic dimension reflects motivational state.

Animal Behaviour

Prior to calling off their interest in Ince, Swans manager Michael Laudrup admitted the winger was in a good bargaining position.

BBC

Prior to calling George Anthony to the stand, the defense briefly questioned his wife, Cindy Anthony.

Huffington Post

Prior to calling me stuck up, the only thing he knew about me was my background not even my name.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Moreover, it lays the groundwork for assigning bandwidth, and/or implementing priorities, and hence for QoS-based routing by conveying the quality of a path prior to call setup.

Computer Networks

Duplicates were removed prior to variant calling.

Clinical and Translational Medicine

Merton led a licentious, intellectual and cosmopolitan life prior to his calling.

Huffington Post

Ironically, it was maybe only a year prior to Tim calling that I had reread Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass.

Huffington Post

Control data can be used to make adjustments to the ChIP tag density prior to peak calling.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always remember to contextualize the phrase "prior to calling" with specific actions or information to enhance clarity. For example, 'Review the document prior to calling to discuss specific points'.

Common error

Avoid using "prior to calling" with future tense verbs that create redundancy. For example, instead of "will review prior to calling", use "review prior to calling".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prior to calling" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a temporal relationship. It specifies an action or state that precedes the act of making a phone call. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "prior to calling" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to indicate an action or state that should occur before making a phone call. Ludwig confirms its appropriate usage in a variety of contexts, ranging from news and media to scientific research. It conveys a sense of preparedness and is generally perceived as neutral to formal in tone. Remember to contextualize the phrase with specific actions and to avoid redundant future tense constructions. Consider using alternatives like "before making a call" or "in advance of calling" for slight variations in emphasis. By following these guidelines, you can effectively incorporate the phrase "prior to calling" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

before making a call

Emphasizes the action of 'making' a call rather than 'calling' in a general sense.

prior to making a phone call

More explicit by specifying 'phone call'.

ahead of calling

Slightly more informal; emphasizes being 'ahead' in sequence.

in advance of calling

Emphasizes planning and preparation.

in anticipation of calling

Highlights the expectation or preparation leading up to the call.

previously to calling

A more formal way of saying "before", adds a level of sophistication.

preceding the call

Formal alternative emphasizing sequence.

before the phone call

Simple, direct substitution using a noun phrase.

on the eve of calling

More dramatic and emphasizes immediacy.

leading up to the call

Focuses on the time period before the calling.

FAQs

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

You can use "prior to calling" to indicate an action that should be completed before making a phone call. For example, "Please gather all the necessary information prior to calling the customer service center".

What are some alternatives to "prior to calling"?

Some alternatives include "before making a call", "ahead of calling", or "in advance of calling", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "prior to calling" or "before calling"?

"Prior to calling" and "before calling" are often interchangeable. However, "prior to calling" can sound more formal than "before calling".

What should I do before calling customer support?

Before contacting customer support, you should collect your account information, describe the issue you are encountering, and write down your questions. Having this information ready "before making a call" will make the process easier.