seconds before

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seconds before" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It is often used to refer to a specific period of time before an event happened or a statement was made. Example: "Seconds before the race began, the athletes were seen warming up on the track." In this sentence, "seconds before" is used to indicate the specific time right before the race began. Other examples of using "seconds before" in a sentence could be: - "Seconds before the clock struck midnight, the crowd counted down in anticipation." - "The CEO made a last-minute decision just seconds before the press release was sent out." - "I managed to grab my phone seconds before it fell into the pool."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

She waited a few seconds before speaking.

The New Yorker

The bomb is stopped seconds before detonation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He hesitated for five seconds before responding.

The New York Times

The conversation ended seconds before the crash.

The New York Times

EVERY Wednesday, seconds before 11 a.m.

The New York Times

I'd gone about seven seconds before cracking.

The New York Times - Magazine

It was seconds before other players noticed.

The Guardian - Sport

The ride lasted 1.5 seconds before Ochocinco was bucked off.

The New York Times - Sports

"They still took another thirty seconds before I was conscious.

The New Yorker

Seconds before halftime, Park redeemed himself for the own goal.

The New York Times - Sports

She was quiet, pausing for several seconds before answering questions.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seconds before" to create a sense of immediacy or suspense in your writing. It effectively conveys that an action or event happened very close in time to another.

Common error

Avoid using "seconds before" when referring to events separated by longer durations, such as minutes or hours. It creates confusion and diminishes the intended sense of immediacy. For longer durations, specify "minutes before" or "hours before" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seconds before" functions as a prepositional phrase, indicating a temporal relationship. It specifies the timing of an event relative to another, expressing that something occurred very close in time. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "seconds before" is a grammatically correct and highly common prepositional phrase used to indicate an event occurring very shortly before another. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's prevalent across various contexts, particularly in News & Media, Wiki articles, and scientific publications. While its register is generally neutral, it's crucial to use it appropriately to convey immediacy and avoid misapplication with longer durations. Alternatives like "moments before" or "just prior to" offer slight variations in tone and precision, providing flexibility in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

moments before

Substitutes "seconds" with "moments", suggesting a slightly less precise timeframe.

shortly before

Indicates a brief period of time leading up to an event, similar to "seconds before".

just a moment before

Emphasizes the brevity of the time interval before the event.

just prior to

Replaces "seconds" with a more formal "prior" and uses "to" instead of "before".

a split second before

Highlights the extremely short duration of time before something happens.

immediately preceding

Uses more formal language to convey the same meaning of occurring right before something else.

in the moments leading up to

Expands the timeframe slightly, focusing on the period leading to the event.

on the brink of

Similar to "on the verge of", suggesting an event was very close to occurring.

right on the verge of

Implies that the event was about to happen imminently.

in anticipation of

Focuses on the expectation and readiness leading up to an event.

FAQs

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

Use "seconds before" to indicate something happened very close to another event in time, creating suspense or immediacy. For example, "Seconds before the crash, the pilot issued a warning."

What's the difference between "seconds before" and "moments before"?

"Seconds before" implies a very short, precise timeframe, while "moments before" is slightly less precise and can suggest a slightly longer duration.

What can I say instead of "seconds before" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using alternatives such as "just prior to" or "immediately preceding".

Is it grammatically correct to say "seconds before"?

Yes, "seconds before" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English to describe the time immediately preceding an event.