than before before

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "than before before" is not correct and usable in written English.
It appears to be a redundancy and does not convey a clear meaning. Example: "I feel more confident now than before before I started practicing."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The rate of drug-related hospital treatment episodes was 76% lower during treatment than before (before versus during IRR 4.29595% CI 2.9 to 6.2), p<0.001).

BMJ Open

Regardless of the predictor set (intention estimate, 3 domains or six sub-domains) predictions based on PBMS after the programme were significantly better than before (before 34 to 56%, after 65 to 73% explained variance, p = <.01) (Table 2).

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

He still speaks far more comfortably before business leaders than before police officers.

The New York Times

I could count all the players [as being dangerous] it is a creative team a little bit different the English tea than before as before, RH deserves credit for that – there are a lot of threats in England team".

The Guardian - Sport

Because the F.T.C. will be arguing in administrative hearings, essentially before itself, rather than before a judge in federal district court, it has a much better chance of prevailing, according to William Kopit, a lawyer with Epstein Becker & Green in Washington.

The New York Times

There are more puzzles than before – some 170 in fact, before the usual downloads – and a little innovation in terms of mini-games and side challenges, but mostly it's exactly what you would expect from a Layton game.

The Guardian - Tech

This was irony on the part of Duch, and Duch himself must undoubtedly prefer to be brought before this tribunal than before his staff of executioners at S-21.

The New Yorker

The image of the man emerging from his sealed boat — as from a tomb, as Christians would later point out — was, in the earliest texts, the image of a human sovereign unscathed, as strong as ever, ready to impose his governing will as before, stronger than before.

The New Yorker

It is true that more women and more blacks, more Hispanic-Americans and Asian-Americans, found their way before Kander's camera than before Avedon's.

The New York Times - Magazine

Murrow is even more nervous before a television appearance than before a broadcast, and submits to having his face made up with much the same lack of enthusiasm that he displays while listening to the commercial on his radio show.

The New Yorker

Any more than before?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "than before before". It's redundant. Use "than before" or a single word like 'previously' instead to make your writing clearer and more concise.

Common error

Don't repeat "before" unnecessarily. Repeating the word doesn't add emphasis, but instead makes the sentence sound awkward and grammatically incorrect. Replace the phrase with a single, clearer alternative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "than before before" functions as an incorrect comparative adverbial phrase. It attempts to indicate a change from a previous state but fails due to redundancy. Ludwig AI indicates this is not correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "than before before" is grammatically incorrect and redundant. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is not a standard or acceptable construction in English. Although it appears rarely in some sources, it should be avoided in favor of clearer alternatives such as "than before", "previously", or other suitable adverbs or phrases that accurately convey the intended comparison. Using correct grammar ensures clarity and credibility in writing and speech.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previously

Replaces the entire phrase with a single adverb indicating a prior time.

beforehand

Similar to 'previously', it denotes something done at an earlier time.

in the past

Indicates a time earlier than the present, replacing the comparative element.

in earlier times

More formal way to say "in the past".

in former times

Similar to "in earlier times" but emphasizes the past nature of the period.

earlier on

Offers a slight variation in indicating a prior point in time.

at an earlier date

Emphasizes a specific time in the past.

in days gone by

Idiomatic expression indicating a time long ago.

in bygone days

Similar to "in days gone by", with a more archaic feel.

before this

Directly points to the time preceding the current moment.

FAQs

Is "than before before" grammatically correct?

No, "than before before" is grammatically incorrect due to redundancy. The correct and concise form is "than before".

What does "than before before" mean?

The phrase "than before before" doesn't have a clear meaning and is considered redundant. It's best to use "than before" or alternatives like "previously" to convey the intended meaning.

How can I avoid using "than before before" in my writing?

To avoid using "than before before", simplify your sentence by using "than before" or replacing it with a single word such as "previously", "formerly", or "earlier".

What are some alternatives to "than before"?

Some alternatives to "than before" include "previously", "in the past", "formerly", or rewording the sentence to use a different comparative structure.