without prior communication

USAGE SUMMARY

"without prior communication" is a correct phrase in written English.
It means that something happened, carried out, or was done without talking to someone before it happened, or without warning someone ahead of time. For example, "My coworker was fired without prior communication from our boss."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

For instance; it was difficult to access loans, at times deductions were made from those on sick leave without prior communication.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Most of the time, community responders bring the patient to a receiving center without any prior communication [20].

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

Without any prior communication or notice, Booking.com has decided to censor and delete my review of Red Planet Hotel (I will not even link to their site as it will only drive more people there and only see the positive reviews the booking company has decided to highlight on their site).

Huffington Post

Thursday Planning applications play a big part of the design process and there is very little point in designing a fancy scheme in a sensitive area without some sort of prior communication with the relevant authority.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Planning applications play a big part of the design process and there is very little point in designing a fancy scheme in a sensitive area without some sort of prior communication with the relevant authority.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He asked subjects to choose a time and place to meet a friend on a given day in New York City, without any possibility of prior communication about where or when to meet.

SEP

Communication always refers to an existing background of prior communication.

Educational Psychologist

47% had prior communication with the referral hospitals before transportation.

BMC Pediatrics

This communication always referred to an existing background of prior communication.

Educational Psychologist

Can a Tenant Renovate Without Prior Approval?

The New York Times

Lots of homicides happen without prior violence".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "without prior communication" when emphasizing the unexpected nature of an action or decision due to the absence of earlier dialogue. This highlights a potential oversight or breach of protocol.

Common error

Avoid using "without prior communication" in very casual settings. Simpler phrases like "without a heads-up" or "without telling anyone" might be more appropriate for informal conversations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "without prior communication" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the manner in which an action was performed or a situation occurred. It specifies the absence of any preceding exchange of information.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

30%

Academia

28%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "without prior communication" is a grammatically sound adverbial phrase used to denote the absence of any preceding exchange of information. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage across diverse contexts. While suitable for neutral and professional settings, it may be less fitting for informal conversations. Alternatives like ""without advance notice"" or ""unannounced"" can offer nuanced replacements depending on the context. When using this phrase, it's important to consider the potential implication of a procedural oversight or lack of due process.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without previous notification

Replaces "prior communication" with a more formal term, focusing on the act of notifying.

without advance notice

Emphasizes the lack of warning before an action or event.

without earlier consultation

Highlights the absence of a discussion or advisory session beforehand.

without pre-communication

Uses a prefix to directly negate the act of communicating beforehand.

without preliminary discussion

Focuses on the lack of a preliminary conversation or exchange of ideas.

with no prior dialogue

Emphasizes the absence of a two-way conversation.

absent of prearranged contact

Highlights the lack of scheduled or agreed-upon contact.

without any heads-up

Offers a more informal way to express the lack of warning.

unannounced

A concise adjective describing something done without announcement.

without preemptive contact

Focuses on the lack of preventive or preparatory contact.

FAQs

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

You can use "without prior communication" to indicate that an action was taken or an event occurred without any preceding exchange of information. For example, "The employee was terminated "without prior communication" from the management."

What are some alternatives to "without prior communication"?

Alternatives include phrases like "without advance notice", "without previous notification", or "unannounced", depending on the specific context and level of formality.

Is it correct to say "without any prior communication"?

Yes, adding "any" before "prior communication" simply emphasizes the complete absence of communication. Both "without prior communication" and "without any prior communication" are grammatically correct.

What's the difference between "without prior communication" and "without prior notification"?

"Without prior communication" implies a lack of any kind of information exchange, while "without prior notification" specifically means that no formal notice or warning was given beforehand. The latter is more specific in its implication.