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Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2004Previously on Twin Peaks...
Here is a sentence from a masonic ritual: "JD lowers alms-dish and, if Candidate does not answer quickly, proceeds with second question: Were you deprived of everything valuable previously to entering the Lodge?" I would prefer 'prior'; 'previously' sounds wrong... But is it right? Alan > Here is a sentence from a masonic ritual: > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > I would prefer 'prior'; 'previously' sounds wrong... But is it right? > Alan I can't say what's right or wrong, but "prior to" and "previous to" both sound better to me than "previously to".  SignatureJack Gavin > > Here is a sentence from a masonic ritual: > > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > I can't say what's right or wrong, but "prior to" and "previous to" both > sound better to me than "previously to". "Before", anyone? Or is that insufficiently pompous? SignatureBob Lieblich Even lawyers can simplify > > > Here is a sentence from a masonic ritual: > > > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > "Before", anyone? Or is that insufficiently pompous? 'Before' would be good... The whole ritual - which admittedly dates from about 1810 - is in extremely good English. I think that it must be correct - it just sounds wrong to mine ear. Alan >>> Here is a sentence from a masonic ritual: >>> [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > "Before", anyone? Or is that insufficiently pompous? I think so. They're trying to create a mood, here. > -- > Bob Lieblich > Even lawyers can simplify (Wonders whether to mention that "Bob" and "Twin Peaks" are a volatile combination.) SignatureJack Gavin >> Here is a sentence from a masonic ritual: >> [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >I can't say what's right or wrong, but "prior to" and "previous to" both >sound better to me than "previously to". "Previiously to" is ungrammatical--"previous to" would work. But "previous to" and "prior to" are bureaucratic phrases that nobody should use in common parlance or in anything written but police reports. Use "before." Good old Anglo-Saxon word. Carter Carter Jefferson carterj98@mindspring.com http://carterj.homestead.com/ |
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