without prior agreement

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "without prior agreement" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something should not occur unless there has been an agreement made beforehand. Example: "You are not allowed to make any changes to the contract without prior agreement from both parties."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Mr. Arafat showed some flexibility by consenting to go to Egypt without prior agreement to his demand for an international commission of inquiry on the violence, although he is expected to raise that demand again at Sharm el Sheik.

The New York Times

The broadcaster said that while they do not agree with any form of racism they "did not agree with the nature of the debate on twitter", and said they had been "brought into (the debate) without prior agreement".

Independent

The second treaty provided that no territorial changes should take place in the Balkans without prior agreement and that Austria could annex Bosnia and Hercegovina when it wished; in the event of war between one party and a great power not party to the treaty, the other two parties were to maintain friendly neutrality.

Encyclopedia Britannica

No data is included in the WDMAM without prior agreement of the data owner.

Earth, Planets and Space

I try my best to deal fairly with people who blast out releases with embargoes slapped all over them, without prior agreement.

TechCrunch

He said that M. Kerviel had reacted angrily because the article had been published, without prior agreement, on the day that he was to be questioned for a final time by investigating magistrates.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

For those not fully published data sources, they are not available for downloading without prior agreements of data owners.

Journal of Cheminformatics

This announcement is being made by Poundland without the prior agreement or approval of Steinhoff".

The Guardian - Business

He added: "Banks do charge customers a fee when they go overdrawn without the prior agreement of the bank, but where there are genuine extenuating circumstances many banks will consider waiving this in the light of the individual circumstances.

The Guardian - Money

However, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) subsequently released a strongly-worded statement giving its backing to ERC. "No meeting or international competition involving French clubs can be organised outside the framework of the FFR and without its prior agreement," it read.

BBC

They will not disclose your name to anyone without your prior agreement.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "without prior agreement" to clearly state that an action requires consent or arrangement before it can occur.

Common error

Avoid using "without prior agreement" in very informal settings; simpler phrases like "without asking" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "without prior agreement" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase, often modifying a verb or noun to indicate a condition of lacking previous consent or arrangement. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "without prior agreement" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that signifies the absence of previous consent or arrangement. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is appropriate for use in written English, particularly in formal and professional contexts. Alternatives such as "without previous consent" or "without prior authorization" can be used to provide slightly different nuances. While widely accepted, it's best to avoid the phrase in very informal scenarios where simpler wording might be more suitable. It is important to note the common usage patterns and adapt the phrase's application based on your target audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without previous consent

Replaces "agreement" with "consent", emphasizing permission.

without prior consent

Similar to the original phrase, but uses the synonym "consent".

without prior authorization

Substitutes "agreement" with "authorization", focusing on formal permission.

without previous authorization

Similar meaning, replacing 'agreement' with 'authorization' and 'prior' with 'previous'.

without previous arrangement

Replaces "agreement" with "arrangement", highlighting the lack of a plan.

without prior arrangement

Focuses on the absence of a planned arrangement.

without prior approval

Emphasizes the lack of formal endorsement.

without earlier concurrence

More formal and less common alternative, using "concurrence".

unilaterally

A single word indicating action taken by one party without consulting others.

on one's own initiative

Indicates independent action without needing approval.

FAQs

How can I use "without prior agreement" in a sentence?

You can use "without prior agreement" to indicate that something should not be done unless there has been an agreement beforehand. For example, "You cannot alter the terms of the contract "without prior agreement" from all parties involved".

What phrases are similar to "without prior agreement"?

Alternatives include "without previous consent", "without prior authorization", or "without prior approval". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "without prior agreement" or "without previous agreement"?

Both "without prior agreement" and "without previous agreement" are grammatically correct and have essentially the same meaning. "Prior" is slightly more formal, but the difference is minimal.

When is it inappropriate to use the phrase "without prior agreement"?

While grammatically correct, "without prior agreement" may sound overly formal in very casual conversations. Simpler alternatives like "without asking first" might be more suitable in informal contexts.