prior to that date

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prior to that date" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to refer to an event or action that occurred before a specified date or time. Example: Prior to that date, I had never traveled outside of my home country. In this sentence, the writer is referring to a specific date in the past and stating that before that date, they had not traveled outside of their home country. Another example: The company had been struggling financially for months prior to that date. In this sentence, the writer is talking about a specific date in the past and stating that the company had been facing financial difficulties for several months leading up to that date.

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

For 10 years prior to that date, he had been Premier of Estonia.

The New York Times

For information concerning the period prior to that date, see Low Countries, history of.

Britannica

Courses taken prior to that date may be counted towards the BMI Ph.D. minor degree.

Stanford University

For a discussion of the period prior to that date, see Low Countries, history of the.

Encyclopedia Britannica

No penalties or interest will be assessed for failures to withhold prior to that date.

Cornell University

An institution of higher education may choose to implement such provisions prior to that date.

Cornell University

Prior to that date the Railway Labor Act prohibited union shop agreements.

Cornell University

No penalties or interest for failures to withhold will be assessed prior to that date.

Cornell University

"If the investigation is completed prior to that date, the inquest may be brought forward," Heming said.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

"I just think, you have a chance to retain the player prior to that date, and to do it after that doesn't make as much sense," Cashman said.

The New York Times

shall commence to run on such date of expiration as to all offenses charged in informations or indictments filed prior to that date.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "prior to that date", ensure the context clearly establishes the specific date being referenced to avoid ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "prior to that date" without explicitly mentioning or implying the date in the surrounding text. This can lead to confusion and require readers to search for the referent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prior to that date" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by specifying the time frame before a certain point. Ludwig provides many examples of its use in academic, news, and legal contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Academia

32%

News & Media

45%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "prior to that date" serves to denote occurrences or conditions existing before a specified point in time. As affirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically sound and frequently employed across diverse writing styles. However, it is important to establish clearly which date is being referenced. Common contexts include academic, news media, and scientific writing. Although less common in casual conversation, the phrase maintains a neutral to formal register. Alternatives such as "before that date" offer simpler options. Overall, "prior to that date" remains a reliable and widely accepted phrase when precision is needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

before that date

Replaces "prior to" with the simpler "before", making it slightly less formal.

preceding that date

Uses a participial adjective to indicate what comes before.

previous to that date

Substitutes "prior" with "previous", offering a more formal synonym.

earlier than that date

Uses a comparative structure to indicate a time before the specified date.

leading up to that date

Focuses on the period preceding the date, emphasizing the buildup to it.

up until that date

Indicates a duration leading directly to the specified date.

in advance of that date

Highlights the action taken ahead of the date.

on dates preceding that date

Emphasizes multiple occurrences before the date.

in the time before that date

Expands on the timeframe before the date, providing more detail.

antecedent to that date

Introduces a more formal and technical term for 'before'.

FAQs

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

Use "prior to that date" to specify that something happened before a specific point in time. For example, "All applications submitted "before that date" will be considered."

What's a simpler way to say "prior to that date"?

A simpler alternative is ""before that date"". It conveys the same meaning with less formality.

Is it ever incorrect to use "prior to that date"?

While grammatically correct, "prior to that date" can be perceived as overly formal in casual contexts. In such cases, using ""before that date"" might be more appropriate.

What is the difference between "prior to that date" and "subsequent to that date"?

"Prior to that date" refers to events happening before a specific date, whereas "subsequent to that date" refers to events happening after that date. They are antonyms in a temporal sense.