which was previously

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which was previously" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to something that existed or occurred before a certain point in time or context. Example: "The report discusses the findings of the study, which was previously conducted in 2020."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Excluding the charge, which was previously disclosed, CBS would have posted a profit.

The New York Times

The report said they included Park View secondary school, which was previously rated as outstanding.

The Guardian

(You can read the piece, which was previously available to subscribers only).

The New Yorker

The post, which was previously held by Richard C. Holbrooke, has been vacant since January.

The New York Times

"The family, which was previously respected in the community where they lived in Cardiff, were ostracised.

The Guardian

Fun Radio, which was previously owned by GCap Media, has been rebranded as Fun Kids.

The Guardian

Moreover, in 2012, 200 Indonesian imams came together to approve vasectomy, which was previously prohibited.

The Guardian

These techniques have replaced calcitonin stimulation testing, which was previously used for this purpose.

Journal of the American College of Surgeons

Two independent T-DNA insertion mutants in AMY1 lacked an amylase band on starch zymograms, which was previously named 'A1'A1

Stanford University

It is backed by the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS) which was previously called SGML Group.

Harvard University

Microsoft, which was previously interested in the company, may be willing to step back in at a much lower price.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Place the phrase immediately after the noun it modifies to ensure the historical context is clearly linked to the correct subject.

Common error

Avoid using "which was previously" without a comma if the information is essential to identifying the subject; in such cases, using "that was previously" without a comma is often more precise in American English.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which was previously" acts as a relative clause designed to provide supplementary historical context. It consists of the relative pronoun "which", the past tense auxiliary verb "was", and the temporal adverb "previously". According to Ludwig AI, it is primarily used in a non-restrictive sense, meaning the information it provides is descriptive rather than essential for identifying the subject.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "which was previously" is a highly reliable and grammatically sound tool for any writer looking to add historical depth to their work. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a "Correct" and "Very common" expression across prestigious sources like The New York Times and Nature. Whether you are describing a building's past use, a person's former job title, or a scientific technique's previous name, this phrase provides a clear temporal bridge. To ensure professional results, remember to use a comma to set it off as a non-restrictive clause and consider alternatives like "formerly" for better brevity when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

which was formerly

Adds a slightly more formal tone compared to the standard phrase.

formerly

Changes the structure from a relative clause to a standalone adverb.

which was once

Focuses on a historical state that may have lasted for a significant duration.

which had been

Uses the past perfect tense to emphasize that the state existed before another past event.

previously known as

Used specifically when referring to a change in name or title.

that was previously

Uses a restrictive relative pronoun, often omitting the comma for essential identification.

which was initially

Highlights the very first state or condition rather than just any prior one.

which was already

Implies the state was already in effect at the specific past time being discussed.

which was earlier

Provides a slightly less formal temporal reference to a prior time.

which was hitherto

Uses a formal and somewhat archaic term meaning until this time.

FAQs

How to use which was previously in a sentence?

You can use it to add background info, such as: "The building, which was previously a warehouse, has been converted into lofts."

What can I say instead of which was previously?

Depending on your sentence, you can use "formerly", "which was once", or "previously known as".

Is it correct to put a comma before which was previously?

Yes, in most cases "which was previously" introduces a non-restrictive clause, meaning it provides extra information that requires a comma for clarity.

What is the difference between which was previously and formerly?

While "which was previously" is a full clause, "formerly" is an adverb that can often replace the entire clause for a more concise sentence.