since before

USAGE SUMMARY

"since before" is a valid and grammatically correct phrase in English.
You can use it to refer to a particular time in the past that is earlier than some other time that is also in the past. For example: "I have been married to my wife since before the turn of the century."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Since before... you know, everything.

The Guardian - Books

Some had been working since before sunrise.

The New Yorker

But since before "The Right Stuff" (1983).

The New York Times

He'd been on-Island since before the semester ended.

The New Yorker

since before Vargas Llosa's stories hit the circuit.

The New Yorker

He said he knew Trygve Lie since before the war.

The New Yorker

"Since before you were born, boy," she answered.

The New Yorker

The worms have been torturing humans since before history began.

The New York Times - Health

He had not touched alcohol since before prison.

The New Yorker

"It's been coming since before the shows," McGregor said.

The New York Times - Sports

I've been stabbing since before you were born.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "since before" to clearly establish a timeline where one event precedes another, providing context or emphasizing the duration from the earlier point.

Common error

Avoid using "since before" when "since" alone suffices. Ensure that adding "before" enhances clarity rather than creating unnecessary repetition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "since before" functions as a temporal prepositional phrase, indicating a starting point in time prior to another specified event or time. As Ludwig AI explains, it is grammatically correct. Examples show its use in specifying durations or conditions existing before a particular moment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0.5%

Reference

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "since before" is a grammatically sound prepositional phrase primarily used to establish a temporal context, indicating that something has been true or ongoing from a time preceding a specific event. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is valid and frequently encountered in news and media. While more formal alternatives like "prior to" exist, "since before" effectively conveys a sense of duration and continuity from an earlier point. It's important to ensure its use adds clarity rather than redundancy. The phrase finds its strongest presence in journalistic and narrative contexts, painting a timeline for the reader.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prior to

This alternative is a more formal way of saying "before".

earlier than

This alternative emphasizes the temporal sequence.

before that time

This alternative explicitly states a time reference.

dating back to before

This alternative emphasizes the duration from the earlier time.

previously to

This is a more formal and less common way to say "before".

from an earlier period than

This alternative is a longer, more descriptive version.

in advance of

This alternative is often used to describe preparations.

antedating

This is a formal verb meaning to precede in time.

afore

A somewhat archaic term meaning "before".

before the occurrence of

This alternative is a verbose way to describe temporal precedence.

FAQs

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

Use "since before" to indicate a state or action that began at a time preceding a known event. For instance, "The tradition has been upheld "since before the war"" establishes a practice predating a specific conflict.

What are some alternatives to saying "since before"?

Depending on the context, consider using alternatives like "prior to", "before that time", or "earlier than" to express a similar temporal relationship.

Is it redundant to say "since before"?

While "since" often implies "before", using "since before" can sometimes emphasize the extended duration or importance of the earlier time. Ensure its use adds clarity and isn't merely repetitive.

What's the difference between "since before" and "prior to"?

"Since before" highlights a duration from a time predating a specific event, whereas "prior to" simply indicates something occurred earlier. The former emphasizes the continuity from an earlier point.