this was before

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this was before" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to a time period or event that occurred in the past. For example: "This was before I met my wife. I had no idea how much my life would change after that."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

This was before that.

Princeton University

(This was before ATMs).

The New York Times

And this was before good drug therapies.

The Guardian - Arts

And this was before Twitter.

Los Angeles Times

(This was before Facebook).

The New Yorker

This was before refrigeration.

The New Yorker

"This was before Vietnam".

The New York Times

This was before cellphones.

The New York Times - Magazine

This was before microwaves.

The New Yorker

This was before Sputnik.

University of California, Berkeley

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

(This is before including a multiplier effect).

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this was before" to clearly establish a chronological order, helping your reader understand the sequence of events. For example, "This was before the widespread adoption of smartphones, so communication was much different."

Common error

Avoid using "this was before" when the temporal relationship is already clear from the surrounding text. Overuse can make your writing redundant. Instead, focus on providing additional details or context that enhance understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this was before" functions as a temporal marker, indicating that a particular state, event, or condition existed prior to a specific point in time. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

10%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "this was before" serves as a fundamental tool for indicating a prior state or event, effectively establishing a temporal relationship, as confirmed by Ludwig. Its grammatical correctness, broad applicability across diverse contexts from "News & Media" to "Academia", and clear communicative purpose make it a versatile expression. While synonyms such as "prior to this" and "preceding this" exist, "this was before" maintains a neutral register suitable for a wide range of audiences. A key writing tip is to use the phrase judiciously, ensuring it enhances clarity rather than introducing redundancy. In summary, understanding the function and purpose of "this was before" allows for more effective and nuanced communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

earlier than this

This focuses on the timing being previous to 'this'.

prior to this

This alternative uses more formal vocabulary to indicate precedence.

preceding this

This is a more formal and concise way of expressing 'before'.

previous to this

Similar to 'prior to this' but slightly less formal.

before this happened

This explicitly states an event that follows the 'this'.

in advance of this

This suggests a preparatory action before 'this'.

that was before

Adds a deictic element, emphasizing the past context.

beforehand

This is a shorter adverbial form.

antedating this

This uses a less common verb to express precedence.

leading up to this

This indicates a period of time before 'this'.

FAQs

How can I use "this was before" in a sentence?

"This was before" is used to indicate that something occurred at an earlier time than a specific event or point in time. For example: "This was before the internet became widely accessible."

What's a more formal alternative to "this was before"?

More formal alternatives include "prior to this" or "preceding this".

Is it always necessary to specify what "this" refers to when using "this was before"?

While not always necessary if the context is clear, specifying what "this" refers to improves clarity. For example, instead of "This was before," you could say "This was before the new regulations."

How does "this was before" differ from "before this"?

"This was before" typically introduces a clause that provides context, while "before this" often acts as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. For instance, "This was before the invention of the printing press" versus "Before this, information was spread mainly through word of mouth".