was previously done

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was previously done" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to an action or task that has been completed in the past before the current point in time. Example: "The analysis was previously done by another team before we took over the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

"It's going to take some time for him to undo what was previously done," she said.

The New York Times

It does not extrapolate the primary variable to Neumann boundaries, as this was previously done in similar methods.

Journal of Computational Physics

That work was previously done by the New York office of BBDO Worldwide, part of the Omnicom Group.

The New York Times

Julia Darby, economics professor at the University of Strathclyde, says graduates are doing work that was previously done by school-leavers.

The Guardian

By going to a national -- and then global -- introduction, according to Mr. Arana, who said that most Cuervo advertising was previously done at a local level.

The New York Times

Whereas contract compliance was previously done by an entire team, AI tools enable a well-designed software platform – coupled with a few employees – to do the job.

Harvard Business Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

The comparison was done with both simulated data and data from transmission experiments that were previously done at RPI.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

Research approaches that were previously done exclusively in industry are now being used in academia to advance basic research.

Stanford University

"Our job is to show how phenomenally cool it is to do things wirelessly that were previously done manually".

The New York Times

Rather, they were rediscoveries of work that had been previously done by others.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The corresponding analysis of the extensible polygonal chain, where the respective angles formed by the successive bonds are less than π, has not been previously done.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing changes in processes, use "was previously done" to clearly indicate the prior method before introducing the new one. For instance, "Data entry was previously done manually; now it's automated."

Common error

Avoid using "was previously done" when you mean something is already planned or scheduled. "The presentation was previously done" implies the presentation happened, not that it's prepared for a future date. Use "was previously scheduled" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was previously done" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that an action has been completed at an earlier time. This structure allows the speaker or writer to emphasize the action rather than the actor. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is considered grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was previously done" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction that indicates a past action or process. Predominantly found in scientific and news contexts, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, it serves to provide background information, highlight changes, or establish temporal context. While it is versatile, avoiding confusion with similar phrases like "was previously scheduled" is crucial. This guide underscores its proper usage, alternatives, and common pitfalls, ensuring clarity and precision in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been done before

Uses "had been" to emphasize the completion of the action before a specific point in the past.

was accomplished earlier

Replaces "previously done" with "accomplished earlier", focusing on the achievement aspect.

was performed beforehand

Substitutes "previously done" with "performed beforehand", highlighting the action's execution.

was executed in the past

Uses "executed in the past" to explicitly state the action occurred at some earlier time.

was completed prior

Replaces "previously done" with "completed prior", stressing the finished state of the action.

was formerly carried out

Uses "formerly carried out" to indicate that the action was done under a previous arrangement or condition.

was undertaken before

Substitutes "previously done" with "undertaken before", emphasizing the commencement and execution of the action.

was realized earlier on

Replaces "previously done" with "realized earlier on", focusing on the action's manifestation or accomplishment at an earlier time.

was achieved in the past

Uses "achieved in the past" to explicitly focus on a prior accomplishment.

was finished at an earlier time

Substitutes "previously done" with "finished at an earlier time", highlighting when something was completed.

FAQs

How can I use "was previously done" in a sentence?

Use "was previously done" to describe an action or task that has been completed before the current point in time. For example: "The analysis "was previously done" by another team."

What are some alternatives to "was previously done"?

You can use alternatives like "had been done before", "was accomplished earlier", or "was performed beforehand" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "was previously done" or "had been previously done"?

Both "was previously done" and "had been previously done" are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different nuances. "Was previously done" is simple past passive, while "had been previously done" is past perfect passive. Choose the latter if you want to emphasize that the action was completed before another point in the past.

What's the difference between "was previously done" and "is currently done"?

"Was previously done" refers to an action that occurred in the past and is no longer the case, while "is currently done" describes an action happening now. For example, "Manual calculations "was previously done", but now everything "is currently done" by software."