two times before

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "two times before" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has occurred on two previous occasions. Example: "I have visited that museum two times before, and each visit was a unique experience."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

King had come to Memphis two times before to give aid to the Memphis Sanitation Workers Strikee.

Stanford University

"I've been asked that... one or two times before," he says, stopping himself from saying, "a million times before".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Ms. Grubman's lawyer, Stephen P. Scaring, said today that "she had only driven the car once, maybe two times before".

The New York Times

She clapped, but only two times, before promptly sipping from her glass and paying no mind to what was going on onstage.

Huffington Post

Jolie has previously visited the studio two times before, most recently receiving a a large tiger tattoo on her back in 2004.

Huffington Post

The collections were performed at least two times, before and 1 2 months after the operation.

British Journal of Cancer

MRI was done at two times before, and at 30 minutes, 4 hours and 24 hours after the tap test.

Fluids and Barriers of the CNS

He had applied two times before.

The New York Times

She had only been on the podium two times before Sunday.

The New York Times - Sports

"Two times before when the police came to Naka, the Haqqani guys stopped them".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Thirty-two times before, voters have cast ballots on the question of marriage equality throughout this country, and 32 times we have lost.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "two times before", ensure the context clearly establishes a timeline. This helps avoid ambiguity about when the two prior occurrences took place.

Common error

Avoid using "two times before" when the specific instances are unclear or not established in the context. Be specific about when the prior occurrences happened to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "two times before" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, indicating the frequency with which an action or event has occurred prior to a specific point in time. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

27%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "two times before" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to indicate that something has occurred on two previous occasions. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is perfectly usable in written English. It is applicable across various registers, including news, scientific, and academic writing. While alternatives like "twice previously" exist, "two times before" provides a clear and straightforward way to convey the concept of recurrence in relation to a specific point in time. When employing this phrase, ensure that the context establishes a clear timeline for the previous occurrences to prevent ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

twice previously

Replaces "two times before" with a more concise adverb indicating frequency and time.

on two prior occasions

Substitutes "times" with "occasions" and "before" with "prior", adding a touch of formality.

two times earlier

Uses "earlier" instead of "before" to indicate a point in the past.

in two previous instances

Replaces "times" with "instances" and "before" with "previous", offering a more formal tone.

two separate occasions beforehand

Adds "separate" to emphasize distinct occurrences and uses "beforehand" as a synonym for "before".

on a couple of prior occasions

Uses the idiomatic expression "a couple of" instead of "two" and "prior" instead of "before".

previously on two occasions

Rearranges the order of words and replaces "times" with "occasions".

has happened twice in the past

Expresses the idea of something having occurred "two times before" in a more descriptive way.

had occurred twice before that

Similar to the original phrase but emphasizing the sequence of events.

twice in preceding instances

Uses "preceding" instead of "prior" to specify that events occurred previously.

FAQs

How can I use "two times before" in a sentence?

You can use "two times before" to indicate that something has occurred twice in the past relative to a specific point in time. For example, "I had visited Paris "two times before" my most recent trip".

What are some alternatives to "two times before"?

Alternatives include "twice previously", "on two prior occasions", or "two times earlier". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is it grammatically correct to say "two times before"?

Yes, "two times before" is grammatically correct and commonly used in both spoken and written English.

What's the difference between "two times before" and "twice before"?

"Two times before" and "twice before" are largely interchangeable. "Twice before" is more concise, while "two times before" might be preferred for emphasis or clarity in certain contexts.