three separate times before

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "three separate times before" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something has occurred on three distinct occasions in the past prior to the current moment or event being discussed. Example: "I have asked him to clean his room three separate times before, but he still hasn't done it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Private lenders now make 18 different federally mandated disclosures three separate times before issuing a private loan to a student.

The New York Times

US, female, 1980 "In my area, Planned Parenthood had to stop offering medication abortion because legislation changed and now threatens to fine medical providers if they individually do not see a patient three separate times before writing the script.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The report details the advanced characteristics of the AAV, which had been sighted by another aircraft carrier off the coast of California "three separate times" in the days before it was intercepted by the F18s as seen in the video.

Vice

She had applied three separate times to Riverside's nursing program before she got in.

Huffington Post

Three separate times.

Huffington Post

The experiments were repeated three separate times.

Blood Cancer Journal

The experiment was performed three separate times.

Acta Physiologica

Each experiment was repeated three separate times.

DNA Research

Experiment was repeated three separate times.

Epigenetics and Chromatin

The assay was conducted three separate times.

British Journal of Cancer

Because the effects of theta burst stimulation take time to build up, we examined the effect of TMS stimulation compared to sham TMS (baseline) over three separate time intervals: before TMS, immediately after TMS (post-TMS 1), and 11 22 min following TMS (post-TMS 2).

Brain Stimulation

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "three separate times before" to clearly indicate a repeated action or event that occurred on three distinct occasions prior to the current situation. This emphasizes the persistence or repeated nature of the action.

Common error

Avoid using "three separate times before" too frequently within a short span of writing. Vary your language by using alternatives like "on three prior occasions" or "three times previously" to maintain reader engagement and prevent redundancy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "three separate times before" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. It specifies the frequency and timing of an action, indicating that it has occurred repeatedly in the past.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "three separate times before" is grammatically correct and functions as an adverbial phrase specifying the frequency and timing of an action. Though not exceedingly common, it is a usable phrase across various contexts, including News & Media, Science and Academia. It is used to emphasize the repetition of an event in the past. According to Ludwig, "three separate times before" is correct and usable in written English. Consider alternatives like "on three prior occasions" or "three times previously" to prevent redundancy. The phrase is mostly applied in a neutral register, providing a clear and accurate way to refer to a repeated action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on three prior occasions

Focuses on the number of occasions and their precedence.

three times previously

Highlights the frequency and the past occurrence.

three distinct times earlier

Emphasizes the uniqueness of each occasion and their temporal relation to the present.

three different occasions prior to this

Stresses the difference in each occasion and their temporal relation to the present.

in three separate instances beforehand

Uses a more formal tone.

three individual times in advance

Highlights the individuality of each occurrence.

three unique times leading up to this

Focuses on the uniqueness of each time and their progressive relation to the present.

three discrete times prior

Emphasizes the distinctness of each occasion.

three separate instances preceding this

Uses a more formal and sequential tone.

three times in the past beforehand

Highlights the repetition and past occurrence of something.

FAQs

How can I use "three separate times before" in a sentence?

You can use "three separate times before" to indicate that something occurred on three distinct occasions prior to the current moment or event being discussed. For example, "I have asked him to clean his room "three separate times before", but he still hasn't done it."

What can I say instead of "three separate times before"?

You can use alternatives like "on three prior occasions", "three times previously", or "three distinct times earlier" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "three separate times before"?

While "separate" and "before" may seem somewhat implied, using ""three separate times before"" emphasizes the distinctness and past occurrence of the events. It's generally acceptable and can provide clarity, but consider using alternatives to avoid overuse.

What's the difference between "three separate times" and "three separate times before"?

"Three separate times" simply indicates the repetition of an event. Adding "before" specifies that those repetitions occurred prior to a particular point in time, adding a temporal context. For example, "I called her "three separate times"" vs. "I called her "three separate times before", but she didn't answer."