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"Preceding" vs. "previous": a battle of the past

Reviewed and edited by Lloyd Cooper 14/10/2024, 07:12
English.me team member
Preceding and previous. What's the difference?

What is similar?

Both "preceding" and "previous" refer to something that comes before something else in time or order. They are often used interchangeably in contexts where events or items are being discussed in sequence.

What is different?

The word "preceding" often emphasizes the immediate proximity of the item or event before another, while "previous" can be used more generally to refer to any item or event that came before, not necessarily the one immediately before. Additionally, "preceding" is more formal and is often used in institutional or academic contexts.

Which one is more common?

Internet search results for preceding) and previous

Examples of usage

Preceding
  • The preceding chapter discusses the historical context in detail.
  • In the graph, the preceding data point shows a significant increase.
  • She referenced the preceding paragraph to support her argument.
Previous
  • He learned from his mistakes in the previous job.
  • The previous owner of the house left it in excellent condition.
  • Our previous meeting was much more productive than this one.