Befor vs. Before: Mastering the Correct Spelling
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on March 12, 2024
The incorrect spelling is "befor," while the correct spelling is "before." "Before" is a preposition or conjunction indicating temporal or spatial precedence.
Which is correct: Befor or Before
How to spell Before?
Befor is Incorrect
Before is Correct
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Key Differences
Recall that "before" has an 'e' at the end, unlike "befor."
Use the sentence "Better late than never, but better never late" to remember that "before" starts with "be" and ends with "e."
"Before" has six letters, just like "after," which is its opposite.
Link it with "after," which also has six letters, to remember the correct number of letters in "before."
Remember that "before" rhymes with "more," and both have an 'e' at the end.
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Correct usage of Before
She wanted to grab a snack befor dinner.
She wanted to grab a snack before dinner.
He had never seen such a thing befor.
He had never seen such a thing before.
The meeting was scheduled for 9 AM, befor the office officially opened.
The meeting was scheduled for 9 AM, before the office officially opened.
He always checks the weather report befor leaving the house.
He always checks the weather report before leaving the house.
Please finish your homework befor you go outside to play.
Please finish your homework before you go outside to play.
Before Definitions
Earlier in time
They called me the day before.
In front; ahead.
Previous to in time; earlier than.
In front of.
In store for; awaiting
The young man's whole life lies before him.
Into or in the presence of
She asked that the visitor be brought before her.
Under the consideration or jurisdiction of
The case is now before the court.
In a position superior to
The prince is before his brother in the line of succession.
In advance of the time when
See me before you leave.
Rather than; sooner than
I will die before I will betray my country.
Earlier than (in time).
I want this done before Monday.
In front of in space.
He stood before me.
We sat before the fire to warm ourselves.
In the presence of.
He performed before the troops in North Africa.
He spoke before a joint session of Congress.
Under consideration, judgment, authority of (someone).
The case laid before the panel aroused nothing but ridicule.
In store for, in the future of (someone).
In front of, according to a formal system of ordering items.
In alphabetical order, "cat" comes before "dog", "canine" before feline".
At a higher or greater position than, in a ranking.
An entrepreneur puts market share and profit before quality, an amateur intrinsic qualities before economical considerations.
At an earlier time.
I've never done this before.
In advance.
At the front end.
In advance of the time when.
(informal) Rather or sooner than.
I'll die before I'll tell you anything about it.
In front of; preceding in space; ahead of; as, to stand before the fire; before the house.
His angel, who shall goBefore them in a cloud and pillar of fire.
Preceding in time; earlier than; previously to; anterior to the time when; - sometimes with the additional idea of purpose; in order that.
Before Abraham was, I am.
Before this treatise can become of use, two points are necessary.
An advance of; farther onward, in place or time.
The golden age . . . is before us.
Prior or preceding in dignity, order, rank, right, or worth; rather than.
He that cometh after me is preferred before me.
The eldest son is before the younger in succession.
In presence or sight of; face to face with; facing.
Abraham bowed down himself before the people.
Wherewith shall I come before the Lord?
Under the cognizance or jurisdiction of.
If a suit be begun before an archdeacon.
Open for; free of access to; in the power of.
The world was all before them where to choose.
On the fore part; in front, or in the direction of the front; - opposed to in the rear.
The battle was before and behind.
In time past; previously; already.
You tell me, mother, what I knew before.
Earlier; sooner than; until then.
When the butt is out, we will drink water; not a drop before.
Earlier in time; previously;
I had known her before
As I said before
He called me the day before but your call had come even earlier
Her parents had died four years earlier
I mentioned that problem earlier
At or in the front;
I see the lights of a town ahead
The road ahead is foggy
Staring straight ahead
We couldn't see over the heads of the people in front
With the cross of Jesus marching on before
Before" indicates a point in time earlier than a reference point.
She arrived before noon.
"Before" signifies spatial precedence or location.
Stand before the mirror.
"Before" can introduce a condition or prerequisite.
Think before you speak.
"Before" can be used to emphasize priority or importance.
Duty comes before pleasure.
"Before" is used to represent someone in authority or judgment.
The case came before the judge.
Before Sentences
Before you leave, make sure to turn off the lights.
We need to finish this project before Friday.
You should wash your hands before eating.
I like to read for a bit before going to sleep.
Make a list before you go grocery shopping.
Before the movie starts, let's grab some popcorn.
Before making a decision, consider all your options.
She always calls her mom before starting her day.
He had never visited a museum before today.
The teacher collects the homework before class begins.
Before the internet, people used to write letters to communicate.
They decided to meet up before the concert to get dinner.
She reviews her notes before every exam.
They always pray before eating their meals.
Before you criticize someone, try walking in their shoes.
Check the weather forecast before planning your outdoor activities.
Before smartphones, people used maps to find their way.
Save your work before closing the computer.
He packed his bag the night before his trip.
Before you say something, think about how it might affect others.
She likes to stretch before starting her workout.
Always check the expiration date before buying food.
The birds start singing before the sun rises.
We had a meeting before lunch to discuss the project.
He enjoys a quiet cup of coffee before the day begins.
Before Idioms & Phrases
Think before you speak
Consider what you are going to say before you say it to avoid saying something you might regret.
He always gets into trouble because he never thinks before he speaks.
Look before you leap
Consider the consequences before taking action.
It's a big decision, so look before you leap.
The calm before the storm
A period of peace or tranquility before a period of trouble or difficulty.
The city was quiet, the calm before the storm of the festival weekend.
Before you know it
Something will happen so quickly or suddenly that you will be surprised when it does.
Summer will be here before you know it.
Before the ink is dry
Something is being changed or reconsidered almost immediately after being agreed upon or finalized.
They were renegotiating the deal before the ink was dry.
Put the cart before the horse
To do things in the wrong order.
By buying furniture before measuring the room, they were putting the cart before the horse.
Before the bell
Refers to completing something or arriving somewhere before the designated time.
She always arrives at her desk and is ready to work before the bell.
FAQs
What is the root word of before?
From Old English "be-foran."
Which vowel is used before before?
Either "a" or "the," depending on context.
What is the verb form of before?
"Before" does not have a verb form; it is a preposition or conjunction.
Why is it called before?
Derived from Old English "be-foran," meaning "in front of."
What is the singular form of before?
"Before" doesn't have a singular or plural form; it's a preposition or conjunction.
Which conjunction is used with before?
"And" or "or," as in "before and after" or "before or after."
Is before a noun or adjective?
It's primarily a preposition or conjunction but can be an adverb.
Is before an abstract noun?
No.
What is the pronunciation of before?
Pronounced as /bɪˈfɔr/.
Which preposition is used with before?
None usually; "before" itself is a preposition.
Is before a vowel or consonant?
It's a word, not a vowel or consonant.
Is before a countable noun?
No, it's not a noun.
Is before a negative or positive word?
Neutral; it depends on the context.
What part of speech is before?
Preposition, conjunction, or adverb.
What is the plural form of before?
Not applicable; "before" is a preposition or conjunction.
Is the word before imperative?
No, it's not a verb.
What is the opposite of before?
After.
What is the second form of before?
Not applicable; it's a preposition, conjunction, or adverb.
What is the third form of before?
Not applicable; it's a preposition, conjunction, or adverb.
Is before an adverb?
Yes, it can function as an adverb.
How many syllables are in before?
Two syllables.
How do we divide before into syllables?
Be-fore.
Which determiner is used with before?
"The," "this," "that," depending on context.
What is the first form of before?
Not applicable; it's a preposition, conjunction, or adverb.
Which article is used with before?
"The," as in "the day before."
Is before a collective noun?
No.
Is the term 'before' a metaphor?
Not inherently, but it can be used metaphorically.
How is before used in a sentence?
Example: Finish your homework before dinner.
What is a stressed syllable in before?
The second syllable, "fore," is stressed.
What is another term for before?
Prior to, earlier than.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
