the preceding event

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the preceding event" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to an event that occurred before the current point in time or discussion. Example: "The results of the experiment were influenced by the preceding event, which involved a significant change in temperature."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Federer withdrew from this tournament shortly after losing in the final of the preceding event of his hometown of Basel, Switzerland.

The New York Times

Citing this account, proponents of indirect perception point out that every event in such a causal sequence effects some modification of the input it receives from the preceding event.

Encyclopedia Britannica

On plate boundaries, sequences of large earthquakes are often found to progressively rupture the plate interface, with one large earthquake occurring adjacent to and soon after the preceding event.

Geoscience Letters

In (28), the preceding sentence of (a) and (b) are the same; as the successive sentence of (a) raises an opposite expectation to the preceding event, a concession-disjunctive is determined.

Lingua Sinica

Experiments were designed such that both steady and non-steady effluent sediment yields were reached at the conclusion of E1. Results from subsequent experiments showed that short-time soil erosion was dependent on whether steady-state erosion was achieved during the preceding event, although consistent steady-state effluent sediment yields were reached for each sediment size class.

Journal of Hydrology

Each event within the trial followed immediately after the preceding event with no intervening video frames.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

There is, after all, no doubt at all that the preceding events in the town encapsulated the old politics neatly.

The Guardian - Opinion

Katie New York Weddings and the preceding events often involve gifts to the couple, especially if you are an attendant or a close friend.

The New York Times

This makes it difficult to develop effective countermeasures because these crash categorizations are based on the outcomes rather than the preceding events.

Accident Analysis & Prevention

The preceding events happened well over a year ago, and I was so upset that I started writing the above blog post then.

Huffington Post

The Doctor explains the preceding events, but that tally marks are appearing on his arms, indicating the presence of the Silence.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a sequence of occurrences, use "the preceding event" to clearly establish chronological order and causality. This helps your audience understand the relationship between different events in a narrative or analysis.

Common error

Avoid using "the preceding event" when you actually mean "the following event". "Preceding" refers to something that comes before, while "following" refers to something that comes after. Double-check your wording to ensure you're accurately representing the sequence of events.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the preceding event" functions as a determiner phrase acting as a noun adjunct, modifying a noun or noun phrase. It specifies which event is being referred to, indicating that it is the event that occurred immediately before the one currently under discussion. Ludwig provides numerous examples where this phrase clarifies temporal sequences.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

69%

News & Media

19%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "the preceding event" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to refer to an event that happened immediately before another. Ludwig confirms that it's used across different domains, especially in science, news and encyclopedia. While generally neutral to formal in tone, it adds precision and clarity when detailing sequences of events and causality. Keep in mind that it's very important to distinguish it from "the following event".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the prior occurrence

Replaces "event" with "occurrence" and "preceding" with "prior", keeping the meaning almost identical but sounding slightly more formal.

the previous incident

Substitutes "event" with "incident", implying a specific happening, often of a noteworthy or disruptive nature.

the earlier episode

Replaces "event" with "episode", suggesting a distinct part of a larger sequence or story.

the foregoing circumstance

Uses more formal language, replacing "preceding" with "foregoing" and "event" with "circumstance".

the antecedent situation

Emphasizes the causal link between the past situation and the current event.

the originating factor

Highlights the event that started a chain of events or caused a particular outcome.

the causal trigger

Focuses on the event that directly initiated a particular result or sequence.

the historical precursor

Emphasizes the historical context and suggests a link to later developments.

the preliminary development

Highlights the early stages or building blocks that led to a later event.

the initiating action

Stresses that the event was the very first action that started the chain of events.

FAQs

How can I use "the preceding event" in a sentence?

Use "the preceding event" to clearly indicate something that occurred before the current subject of discussion. For example: "The investigation focused on "the preceding event", which triggered a series of unforeseen consequences."

What are some alternatives to saying "the preceding event"?

Alternatives include "the prior occurrence", "the previous incident", or "the earlier episode", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. You can also use the phrase "the foregoing circumstance" for a more formal tone.

Is it more appropriate to say "the preceding event" or "the previous event"?

Both "the preceding event" and "the previous event" are grammatically correct and largely interchangeable. "Preceding" tends to emphasize the sequence and causal relationship slightly more than "previous" does. Choose the term that best fits the context and desired emphasis.

What is the difference between "the preceding event" and "the subsequent event"?

"The preceding event" refers to what happened before, while "the subsequent event" refers to what happened after. Understanding this distinction is crucial for accurately describing the timeline of events. For example, if A happened before B, then A is "the preceding event" and B is the "subsequent event".