there is precedence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "there is precedence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a certain situation or decision is supported by previous examples or established practices. Example: "In legal matters, there is precedence for allowing exceptions to the rule based on past cases."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In primary rat oligodendrocytes there is precedence for this with the Staufen RNA binding protein [25].

Plosone

There is precedence for levity.

Harvard Business Review

There is precedence in the English game.

The New York Times - Sports

There is precedence for the government's interference.

The New York Times

There is precedence for such a shift.

The Washington Post

There is precedence for this – the intelligence and security committee can take evidence in private.

The Guardian - Opinion

North American soccer might have it wrong, and there is precedence for MLS to follow on opinion this too.

The Guardian - Sport

Thus, there is precedence for reproducible transgene expression amongst iPSC sub-clones with isogenic or diverse genetic backgrounds.

Methods

In the film industry, there is precedence that paying an actor to perform creates an implicit license, since otherwise the footage would unusable by the producer.

University of California, Berkeley

There is precedence for this particular type of morphology in cellulose nanocrystals produced from the acid hydrolysis of tunicates, as reviewed by Moon et al29.

Nature

Third, there is precedence for H. longicornis on dogs reaching the US, albeit not mainland US, but Hawaii: a living female H. longicornis was shipped to Hawaii from Australia on a sheep dog destined for Texas in 19671.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "there is precedence", ensure that you can provide specific examples or instances to support your claim. Vague references to precedence without concrete evidence can weaken your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "there is precedence" to imply that something is definitively justified or guaranteed simply because it has happened before. Precedence can be a factor, but it does not automatically override other considerations or new information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there is precedence" primarily functions as an existential clause, asserting that prior examples or established practices exist to support a current action or decision. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

54%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "there is precedence" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate the existence of prior examples or established practices. According to Ludwig, its primary function is to validate a current action or decision. It is most commonly used in science and news contexts, and its formal register makes it suitable for professional and academic writing. When employing this phrase, remember to provide concrete examples to support your claims and avoid overstating its implications. Alternatives such as "a precedent exists" can offer stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a precedent exists

Replaces the verb phrase "there is" with a more concise noun phrase indicating existence.

there is a precedent

Uses the indefinite article "a" to emphasize a single, specific instance of prior occurrence.

prior examples exist

Highlights the existence of previous instances or illustrations of something.

this has occurred previously

Uses more formal language to convey prior occurrence.

a prior example exists

Emphasizes a particular previous instance.

previous instances exist

Highlights that there are several previous examples.

it has happened before

Uses a more colloquial tone to indicate previous occurrence.

it has been done before

Focuses on the action having been performed previously, rather than the existence of a standard.

there's a history of this

Uses a more informal contraction and focuses on the existence of a pattern over time.

there is a track record

Emphasizes past achievements and history of successes.

FAQs

How can I use "there is precedence" in a sentence?

You can use "there is precedence" to indicate that a similar situation has occurred before, setting a standard or example. For instance, "There is precedence for allowing exceptions in such cases."

What are some alternatives to saying "there is precedence"?

Alternatives include phrases like "a precedent exists", "there is a precedent", or "it has happened before", depending on the desired level of formality.

Is it more formal to say "there is precedence" or "a precedent exists"?

"A precedent exists" tends to be slightly more concise and formal than "there is precedence", although both are appropriate for professional and academic contexts.

What's the difference between "there is precedence" and "there is a precedent"?

"There is precedence" refers to the general existence of prior examples or standards, while "there is a precedent" refers to a single, specific instance serving as an example. The indefinite article specifies only one example compared to multiple or a general standard.