prior

When we use the word prior, we are talking about timing. It is a very useful adjective that helps us signal that something happened before another event. For instance, if you have a prior engagement, it means you already have plans made for that time.

It is slightly more formal than the word 'before' or 'previous'. You will often hear it in business meetings, legal documents, or when someone is explaining why they cannot do something. It carries a sense of importance, suggesting that the earlier event takes precedence over the current one.

Using prior makes your English sound a bit more professional and precise. Instead of saying 'I had a check-up before,' you can say 'I had a prior check-up.' It is a staple in adult conversation and professional writing.

The word prior comes directly from the Latin word prior, which literally means 'former' or 'first'. It is the comparative form of pri-, related to the word primus, which means 'first'. This explains why it is so deeply tied to the concept of being 'first in time'.

It entered the English language in the 15th century. Because it comes from Latin, it has maintained a slightly formal, academic, and legalistic tone throughout its history. It is a great example of how English borrows directly from Latin to express concepts of sequence and order.

Interestingly, the word is also related to the word priority. If something is a priority, it is something that comes prior to other tasks in terms of importance. It is a wonderful way to see how language builds layers of meaning from a single root.

In English, prior is almost always followed by the preposition to. You rarely say 'prior than'; instead, you say 'prior to'. This is a very important grammar rule to remember if you want to sound natural.

Common collocations include prior to arrival, prior to departure, and prior knowledge. These phrases are very common in travel and professional settings. You might see signs at an airport saying 'Please check in prior to your flight.'

While it is common in writing, be careful not to overuse it in casual speech. Using 'before' is perfectly fine when chatting with friends. Save prior for when you are writing emails, giving presentations, or discussing formal arrangements.

While prior itself isn't a core part of many idioms, it is used in several set phrases:

• Prior to: The most common way to use the word. Example: 'Complete the form prior to the meeting.'
• Prior arrangement: A plan made beforehand. Example: 'We have a prior arrangement to meet at noon.'
• Prior notice: Warning given before an event. Example: 'The store closed without any prior notice.'
• Prior restraint: A legal term regarding censorship. Example: 'The court ruled against prior restraint of the press.'
• Prior art: A term in patent law. Example: 'The invention was rejected due to existing prior art.'

Prior is an adjective, so it does not have plural forms or verb conjugations. It is pronounced PRY-er in both American and British English. The stress is on the first syllable.

A common mistake is to add 'than' after it. Always remember the pattern: prior + to. It is never 'prior than'. You can think of it as a replacement for 'before', but remember that 'before' can be a preposition or a conjunction, whereas 'prior' is strictly an adjective that needs the preposition 'to' to connect to a noun or gerund.

Rhymes for prior include fire, liar, wire, tire, and higher. These words all share the same long 'i' sound followed by an 'er' sound, making them easy to practice if you want to perfect your pronunciation.