referred before

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "referred before" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used in legal or formal contexts to indicate that something has been mentioned or brought up previously. Example: During the trial, the defendant's prior criminal record was referred to before as evidence of his past offenses.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

As referred before, the receiver of GEO satellite can only endure a fixed number of interfering packets, and we assume the number is N IL in this paper.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

As referred before, a different situation was found concerning PR.

BMC Veterinary Research

The researchers found that while all of the Type I patients were referred for diabetes care before becoming pregnant, none of the Type 2 patients were referred before conception.

Columbia University

Patients living in the Leicester city clinical commissioning group area waited an average of 135 days last year after being referred before they had their first appointment, the House of Commons library found.

The Guardian

If this fondness for home comforts is both familiar and understandable, travel sickness, in its countless guises, can prove to be a side's nemesis, an unpalatable truth to which Robson had referred before last night's game.

The Guardian - Sport

"People can be referred before they fall, or after," explains Ashleigh Corry, the co-ordinator of the falls prevention programme Steady Steps, designed and run by charity Edinburgh Leisure, runner-up in the Measuring Excellence category.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

So they have to be discharged, and then hopefully are re-referred before a crisis occurs but sadly it's often at the point of crisis so that's one area where the case manager in primary care can plug that gap".

BMC Health Services Research

This reminds me a lot of what I have referred to before as "that guy".

The New York Times

He decides not to shock them with the news that prewar referred to before World War II.

The New York Times

Businesses with poor digital footprints risk losing referred customers before they've even had a chance to serve them.

Forbes

None of the cases referred died before arrival.

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "referred before", ensure the context clearly indicates what was previously mentioned or to whom/what the referral pertains to for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "referred before" without specifying the subject or context of the previous reference, as this can lead to confusion. Always ensure clarity by explicitly stating what was previously mentioned or who/what was referred to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "referred before" functions as a past participle phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate that a referral or reference occurred at an earlier point in time. Ludwig examples show its usage in various contexts, including medical and legal fields.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "referred before" is grammatically correct, though not very common, and is generally used in formal contexts, especially in science and news media. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to indicate something was previously mentioned or someone was previously directed. When using this phrase, it's important to clearly specify the subject of the referral to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "previously mentioned" or "mentioned earlier" can be considered depending on the specific context. While the phrase is acceptable and understood, its frequency is low enough that careful consideration should be given to whether a more common alternative would be clearer for the intended audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previously mentioned

Focuses on the act of mentioning something earlier.

mentioned earlier

Similar to 'previously mentioned', but with a slightly different word order.

previously sent

Emphasizes the act of sending something, like a referral, at an earlier time.

referred previously

Reorders the words while keeping the core meaning intact.

earlier referral

Highlights the timing of the referral.

initial referral

Indicates the first instance of a referral.

referred at first

Emphasizes that the referral happened initially.

prior referral

Highlights the referral's precedence in time.

already referred

Focuses on the completed action of referral.

previously directed

Uses 'directed' as a synonym for 'referred', indicating a prior direction.

FAQs

How can I use "referred before" in a sentence?

You can use "referred before" to indicate that something or someone has been mentioned or directed previously. For example, "The patient was "referred before" to a specialist".

What is a good alternative to "referred before"?

Alternatives include "previously mentioned", "mentioned earlier", or "previously sent", depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "referred before" and "previously referred"?

"Referred before" and "previously referred" are quite similar. "Referred before" emphasizes the action's timing relative to another event, while "previously referred" simply states it happened at an earlier time.

In what contexts is "referred before" most appropriate?

The phrase "referred before" is suitable in formal or technical contexts, such as legal documents, medical reports, or academic papers, where it's necessary to indicate that something has been previously mentioned or directed.