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Jeebo

(2,315 posts)

4. "prior to" instead of "before"

Sun Nov 3, 2024, 02:03 AM

Nov 3

Last edited Mon Dec 2, 2024, 02:17 PM - Edit history (1)

Every English teacher I had in high school tried to teach me the principle of economy of words. Don't use more words when using fewer words has the same meaning. The word "before" is one word; "prior to" is two words. Not only that, but "prior to" has always sounded pompous to me. It's as if the person who says "prior to" is trying to sound erudite or intelligent or something. Why is that nobody wants to use the word "before" any more? There's nothing wrong with that word. Use it. Same thing about "subsequent to" instead of "after".

-- Ron

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What do you hate most? [View all] BWdem4life Nov 3 OP

Loser spelled looser askyagerz Nov 3 #1

I usually let it fly even if it irks me. Lunabell Nov 3 #2

I don't know why... qwlauren35 Nov 4 #47

No peoblem. It can be confusing. Lunabell Nov 4 #48

My mother was an English teacher. multigraincracker Nov 3 #3

"prior to" instead of "before" Jeebo Nov 3 #4

That when it should be who. IrishAfricanAmerican Nov 3 #5

right now, CAUSE instead of BECAUSE Skittles Nov 3 #6

Me when it should be I beveeheart Nov 3 #7

You and me gone have word's. Hermit-The-Prog Nov 3 #8

Reflexive enid602 Nov 3 #9

It seems that many people are unaware of fewer instead of less True Dough Nov 3 #10

and while we are at it..... Skittles Nov 4 #36

There They're Their!! justaprogressive Nov 3 #11

Too minor issues to bother me. People make mistakes and these are the least of them. Fla Dem Nov 3 #12

"should of" instead of "should have" milestogo Nov 3 #13

I'm late to this party but... skypilot Nov 3 #20

Years ago in a grammar thread, a witty DUer replied . . . John1956PA Nov 5 #55

Oh God! Me too! Aristus Nov 4 #25

"Awesome" instead of "mildly interesting". Ohiya Nov 3 #14

I'm very kind, regarding proper English..except for Your..You're. (I do like to change the rules a little bit) chouchou Nov 3 #15

their there they're Doc_Technical Nov 3 #16

Definately. Harker Nov 3 #17

Prolly. Harker Nov 3 #18

ooh Skittles Nov 4 #34

It's an eye-roller and a head-shaker for me. n/t Harker Nov 4 #37

I can only picture it in the diary of a 12 year old girl Skittles Nov 4 #38

Or a sixteen year old boy! Junebug46 Nov 4 #43

uh huh Skittles Nov 4 #44

That's different in one way though: Polybius Nov 5 #51

Quite right. Harker Nov 5 #54

BWdem4life....... Upthevibe Nov 3 #19

"If you will" used incorrectly and too frequently Clouds Passing Nov 3 #21

Modifying a word with asterisks/whatever Abolishinist Nov 3 #22

If you don't know the difference between to, too, and two... JoseBalow Nov 4 #23

Definately. Harker Nov 4 #24

"You're" LOL! Junebug46 Nov 4 #45

loose / lose BlueWaveNeverEnd Nov 4 #26

I'm glad I have language tool on my computer Historic NY Nov 4 #27

"I could care less" drives me CRAZY!!!! Ferrets are Cool Nov 4 #28

This message was self-deleted by its author claudette Nov 4 #29

My wife was a high school English Teacher. Her pet peeve is misplaced apostrophe's😁see what I did there? surfered Nov 4 #30

it's Skittles Nov 4 #35

Another headbanging one for me. Different Drummer Nov 4 #40

That's one of my big annoyances, too. Different Drummer Nov 4 #39

Dangling Participles rogerballard Nov 4 #31

"Could of" or "should of" Basso8vb Nov 4 #32

Then when it should be than sorcrow Nov 4 #33

Wait... what the heck is "waive"? electric_blue68 Nov 4 #41

I'm waving my right to a jury trial BWdem4life Nov 4 #42

Using 'What' instead of 'Which' Abolishinist Nov 4 #46

"Wala" instead of voila. 3catwoman3 Nov 4 #49

Add wahla; I asked the poster what it meant. quaint Nov 5 #56

Other Polybius Nov 4 #50

If it's on an informal post, especially a quick response to BS, I don't mind grammar errors. Silent Type Nov 5 #52

Preposition followed by "you and I" TlalocW Nov 5 #53