within the previous

USAGE SUMMARY

"within the previous" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to a time frame that is before the current moment or event. Example: "The data was collected within the previous month." Alternative expressions include "in the past," "during the last," and "over the prior."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The sales should have closed within the previous six months.

The New York Times

A government vet judged they had been killed within the previous fortnight.

The Guardian

There is no age restriction, but applicants must have earned a bachelor's degree within the previous two years.

The New York Times

According to the memo, roughly 14,000 eastern European immigrants had arrived in Southampton within the previous 18 months.

The Guardian

Ex-smokers who had quit within the previous 15 years were included in the group.

The New York Times - Health

Most tumour recurrences occur within the previous irradiation field.

European Journal of Cancer

The corresponding numbers within the previous system are bracketed.

Protein & Cell

Eight patients (6.6%) reported experiencing suicidal ideation within the previous week.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Patients who used antipsychotic, antidepressant and antiepileptic drugs within the previous 3 months.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Table 1 provides a summary of the systems surveyed within the previous sections.

Journal of Cloud Computing

Gastric and/or genitourinary or ocular haemorrhage within the previous 2 weeks.

Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the timeframe specified by "within the previous" is relevant to the surrounding information. Avoid using it vaguely without a clear connection to the topic.

Common error

Avoid using "within the previous" when a more precise timeframe is required. Instead of saying "data collected within the previous period", specify "data collected between January and June" for better clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "within the previous" functions as a prepositional modifier, specifying a temporal boundary or scope. It commonly qualifies nouns related to periods, actions, or events, indicating that they occurred inside that defined period of time. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples demonstrating its consistent usage in academic, scientific, and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "within the previous" functions as a prepositional phrase used to denote events or actions occurring during a specified period leading up to a certain point. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use across various domains. It's most commonly found in scientific, news, and formal business contexts, emphasizing the importance of temporal precision. Alternatives include "in the preceding" or "during the prior". Remember to use precise timeframes and avoid vagueness when using this phrase. The prevalence of examples confirms that its primary function is to clearly establish a timeframe preceding the present moment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the preceding

This alternative uses a more formal tone and emphasizes the sequential aspect of time.

during the last

Very similar to 'over the last' but slightly more concise.

during the prior

This is a concise alternative focusing on the time period before the current one.

over the last

This emphasizes the duration leading up to the present.

before the current

Focuses on the sequence of events with respect to the current situation.

previously in

Highlights that something happened at some point before the present moment.

in the past

This is a more general term that doesn't specify a particular timeframe.

earlier in

Shorter alternative indicating something happened at an unspecified time before now.

in the time before

This is a more descriptive, less formal alternative.

in the period leading up to

Highlights the gradual accumulation to a specific point.

FAQs

How can I use "within the previous" in a sentence?

You can use "within the previous" to refer to a period of time before a specific point. For example, "Patients who received blood transfusions "within the previous two months" were excluded from the study".

What are some alternatives to "within the previous"?

Alternatives include "in the preceding", "during the prior", or "over the last". For example, instead of "within the previous year", you could say "over the last year".

Is it better to use "within the previous" or "in the previous"?

"Within the previous" implies a bounded period leading up to a reference point, while "in the previous" is less specific. "Within the previous month" is clearer than "in the previous month" because it emphasizes the time frame’s proximity to the present.

When is it appropriate to use "within the previous" in formal writing?

It is suitable for formal writing when specifying a timeframe relevant to the context, such as in research papers or legal documents. For instance, "The company's profits "during the prior quarter" exceeded expectations".