were previously billed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were previously billed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to charges or invoices that were issued in the past. Example: "The services rendered last month were previously billed to your account."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The evidence is now clear that the White House and Devin Nunes, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, have worked together to halt what was previously billed as a sweeping investigation of Russian interference in last year's election.

The New Yorker

A patient who was previously bulk billed faces upfront costs of between $282 and $554 and still be left $29 to $302 out of pocket after receiving all the Medicare rebates.

The Guardian - Opinion

A patient who was previously bulk billed would therefore face upfront costs of between $1,352 and $1,656, and be left with out-of-pocket costs of between $90 and $393 after receiving their Medicare rebates.

The Guardian - Opinion

That wording does not bind America to achieving any particular objectives on labour and the environment, but it is stronger language than Republicans were previously ready to accept.The bill also contains provisions designed to protect America's cherished anti-dumping rules.

The Economist

Many of the nuts and bolts in the bill were previously laid out in a book called Why Labor Organizing Should Be a Civil Right, by Richard D. Kahlenberg and Moshe Marvit.

Huffington Post

To be clear, insurance premiums for individual coverage really did rise after the Affordable Care Act took effect, for the very same reason those skimpy plans cost less: The law forced insurers to cover bills they were previously able to avoid.

HuffPost

Members who were previously undecided or leaning against the bill who now support it.

The Washington Post

There will, however, be a certain swagger from George Osborne in the Autumn Statement: for the first time since he took office, the numbers will be better than previously billed.

Independent

Analysts Thomas Seitz and Jerry Dellis at Jefferies bank believe Wi-Fi is not as previously billed just a useful offload or back-up technology for mobile networks.

The Guardian - Business

The paper says that the 91 homeowners were previously asked to pay £10,000 each towards the repair bill.

BBC

The bill has also accelerated reforms in the region that were previously unimaginable.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were previously billed" to clearly indicate that charges or invoices were issued at an earlier time. This is especially useful in financial reports, audits, or when discussing changes in billing practices.

Common error

Avoid using "were previously billed" when referring to current or ongoing billing. This phrase specifically relates to past invoices or charges.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were previously billed" functions as a passive verb phrase indicating that an action (billing) was performed on a subject at an earlier time. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness of this usage. The phrase helps to establish a timeline in financial or transactional contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were previously billed" is grammatically sound and serves the purpose of indicating that invoices or charges were issued at an earlier time. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, its usage is relatively rare. It's frequently found in contexts related to news, science, and formal business communication. When writing, ensure clarity by using this phrase specifically to refer to past billing activities, avoiding confusion with current or ongoing charges. Alternative phrases such as "had been invoiced before" or "was billed earlier" can be considered based on the specific context to achieve the same effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been invoiced before

Emphasizes the act of invoicing in the past, using a more formal tone.

was billed earlier

Uses a simpler structure, focusing on the timing of the billing.

had been charged previously

Replaces 'billed' with 'charged', highlighting the financial aspect.

was invoiced in the past

Specifies that the invoicing occurred at some earlier time.

had already been billed

Highlights that the billing process had been completed before a certain point.

used to be billed

Indicates a past practice of billing that might no longer be in effect.

were formerly billed

Replaces "previously" with "formerly," suggesting a change in current billing status.

were at one time billed

Emphasizes a one-time or occasional billing in the past.

were billed retroactively

Indicates the billing was applied to a period in the past.

have been billed before

This phrase uses the present perfect tense to highlight that the billing happened at some unspecified time in the past.

FAQs

What does "were previously billed" mean?

The phrase "were previously billed" means that charges or invoices had been issued at an earlier point in time. It indicates a past billing event.

How can I use "were previously billed" in a sentence?

You can use "were previously billed" to describe past financial transactions, such as: "The services rendered last month "were previously billed" to your account."

What is a good alternative for "were previously billed"?

Alternatives include phrases like "had been invoiced before", "was billed earlier", or "had been charged previously", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "was previously billed" instead of "were previously billed"?

The use of "was" or "were" depends on the subject. Use "was previously billed" for a singular subject (e.g., "the invoice was previously billed"), and "were previously billed" for plural subjects (e.g., "the services were previously billed").