the minute before

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the minute before" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a specific moment just prior to an event or action occurring. Example: "I was just thinking about what to say the minute before the meeting started."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

Investigators said the train sped up from 70mph (113km/h) to over 100mph in the minute before hitting the sharp bend.

BBC

Yesterday morning, for example, github.com suddenly received requests from 10,000 times the number of clients it had handled the minute before," Jesse Newland wrote on GitHub's blog.

TechCrunch

"The minute before I die," he said.

The New York Times

"I think the Will McAvoy that existed the minute before the show begins would be very successful," he said.

The New York Times

One of them is inscribed "9 01" and the other "9 03," marking the minute before the bomb went off on the morning of April 19 , 1995 and the minute after.

The New Yorker

A preliminary investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board released in June said Roper was driving 65mph in the minute before he slammed into the back of the van.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

The recording of the minutes before the resignation is one that Shearer has always found confounding.

The New Yorker

But it was in the minutes before the final whistle when the game came alive.

The New York Times - Sports

In the minutes before the accident, she seemed calm and deliberate.

The New Yorker

Maytag's stock jumped nearly 28percentt in the minutes before the regular close of trading.

The New York Times

Visually, the minutes before full darkness seen from the water may be Manhattan's finest moments.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the minute before" to create a sense of suspense or immediacy, particularly when describing events that happen in quick succession.

Common error

Avoid using "the minute before" when a longer or vaguer timeframe is more appropriate. For example, if the events occurred over several minutes, consider using "in the moments leading up to" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the minute before" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb or clause to specify when an action occurred in relation to another event. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

32%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the minute before" is a common and grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to specify an event that occurs in the immediate lead-up to another. Ludwig confirms its grammatical soundness. The phrase finds frequent use in contexts like News & Media and Science, offering a way to establish a clear temporal connection. When writing, make sure this phrase accurately reflects the timeframe. If greater or smaller timeframe is needed you may consider using alternatives such as "just before" or "moments before".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just before

Focuses on the immediacy preceding an event, simplifying the expression.

moments before

Emphasizes a brief span of time prior to an event.

seconds before

Highlights the very short duration preceding an event.

right before

Indicates the event occurs immediately after.

in the lead-up to

Shifts focus to the preparatory period before an event.

immediately preceding

More formal way of saying "before" using precedence.

on the verge of

Highlights the imminence of something occurring.

in anticipation of

Focuses on the expectation and preparation for an event.

at the threshold of

Implies nearing the beginning of something.

the prelude to

Refers to the introductory period or event before a main event.

FAQs

How can I use "the minute before" in a sentence?

Use "the minute before" to specify something occurred in the 60 seconds leading up to a particular event. For example, "The train sped up in "the minute before" hitting the bend."

What are some alternatives to using "the minute before"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "just before", "moments before", or "seconds before" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it ever incorrect to use "the minute before"?

While grammatically correct, "the minute before" might be misleading if the timeframe is actually longer or less precise. Choose a different phrase if the event didn't happen strictly within the 60 seconds preceding the specified time.

What's the difference between "the minute before" and "the minutes before"?

"The minute before" refers to a single, specific minute, while "the minutes before" refers to a period of several minutes leading up to an event.