Befor vs. Before — Which is Correct Spelling?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on March 18, 2024
"Befor" is an incorrect spelling, while "Before" is correct, denoting earlier in time or place.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Befor or Before
How to spell Before?
Befor
Incorrect Spelling
Before
Correct Spelling
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Key Differences
In English, "fore" often relates to position or time (e.g., "forefront," "foremost"). Use this association to remember the "e" at the end.
Visualize a timeline in your mind; "before" always points towards the past. The extra 'e' can symbolize that extra stretch of time.
Recall the word "ore" at the end, which itself means a valuable mineral — thus, the right spelling is more valuable.
Sound it out: "be-fore" has two clear syllables, which can help ensure you don't miss the "e."
Think of the phrase "before and after." Without the 'e' at the end of "before," the phrase wouldn't make sense.
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How Do You Spell Before Correctly?
Incorrect: He had never seen anything like it befor.
Correct: He had never seen anything like it before.
Incorrect: Finish your homework befor you go outside to play.
Correct: Finish your homework before you go outside to play.
Incorrect: She had visited Paris once befor.
Correct: She had visited Paris once before.
Incorrect: Let's meet befor the movie starts.
Correct: Let's meet before the movie starts.
Incorrect: We need to sign in befor entering the conference room.
Correct: We need to sign in before entering the conference room.
Before Definitions
Earlier than the occurrence of something.
She arrived before noon.
Prior to the time when.
Finish your homework before you play.
In front of, especially in terms of position or rank.
He stood before the king.
In consideration or anticipation of.
Think before you act.
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.
Under the cognizance or jurisdiction of.
If a suit be begun before an archdeacon.
During the period of time preceding (a particular event or time)
She had to rest before dinner
His playing days had ended six years before
It's never happened to me before
The day before yesterday
They lived rough for four days before they were arrested
In front of
Matilda stood before her, panting
Trotting through the city with guards running before and behind
In preference to; rather than
They would die before they would cooperate with each other
A skilled warrior who places duty before all else
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.
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?
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 Meaning in a Sentence
The calm before the storm is a well-known phenomenon.
Wash your hands before eating to avoid getting sick.
Before you leave, make sure you have all your belongings.
The meeting was scheduled for the day before the holiday.
Before the invention of the internet, people used libraries to research.
Before you judge someone, try walking a mile in their shoes.
I've seen that movie before, but I don't mind watching it again.
She always checks the weather forecast before going on a hike.
He always has his coffee before starting his day.
Before making a decision, consider all the facts.
You should stretch before and after exercise to prevent injury.
Homework must be completed before you can play video games.
Before you say something, think about how it might affect others.
Always read the instructions before assembling furniture.
Save your work before exiting the program to avoid losing data.
We had a meeting before lunch to discuss the project.
Before the concert, the band does a sound check.
The athletes warm up before the competition to perform their best.
Turn off all electronics before going to bed for better sleep.
I like to plan my day the night before to stay organized.
Before smartphones, people used maps to navigate.
Before the digital age, photos were developed from film.
Before you go shopping, make a list to avoid forgetting anything.
Check the expiration date before buying food products.
Look both ways before crossing the street.
Before Idioms & Phrases
Think before you speak
Consider what you are going to say before you say it.
He always thinks before he speaks, avoiding misunderstandings.
The night before
The evening of the day preceding.
On the night before the exam, he reviewed his notes one last time.
Look before you leap
Consider the consequences before you act.
It's a big decision, so look before you leap.
Pay before you go
Make a payment prior to leaving or receiving services.
In many cafes, you're expected to pay before you go.
Just before
A short time prior to an event or moment.
Just before dawn, the city has a serene beauty.
Before the eyes of
In the presence or sight of someone or something.
The performance unfolded before the eyes of an appreciative audience.
Before you know it
Sooner than you expect.
Summer will be here before you know it.
Before long
In a short time; soon.
She'll be joining us before long, so let's wait for her before we start.
Day before yesterday
The day immediately preceding yesterday.
I completed the assignment the day before yesterday.
Before anything else
Prior to all other considerations or actions.
Before anything else, safety should be our main concern.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called Before?
Before originates from Old English "beforan", which means "in front of" or "earlier in time".
Which vowel is used before Before?
The letter "e" is used before the word "before" in its spelling.
What is the pronunciation of Before?
The pronunciation is /bɪˈfɔːr/.
Which preposition is used with Before?
Before itself is a preposition, so it's not typically paired with another preposition.
What is the verb form of Before?
Before is not typically used as a verb; hence, it doesn't have a verb form.
Which article is used with Before?
Both definite ("the") and indefinite ("a", "an") articles can precede "before" depending on the context.
Is Before a noun or adjective?
Before is not typically used as a noun or adjective. It's primarily an adverb or preposition.
Is Before an adverb?
Yes, Before is an adverb.
What is the singular form of Before?
Before is an adverb/preposition and doesn't have a singular form.
What is the root word of Before?
The root word is the Old English "beforan".
Which conjunction is used with Before?
Before can also serve as a conjunction itself.
Is Before a vowel or consonant?
The word "Before" starts with a consonant.
Is Before a countable noun?
No, Before is not a countable noun.
How do we divide Before into syllables?
Be-fore.
Which determiner is used with Before?
Determiners like "the", "a", and "an" can be used with "before", depending on the context.
What is the plural form of Before?
Before doesn't have a plural form.
Is Before an abstract noun?
No, Before is not an abstract noun.
Is the word “Before” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
Before is not typically used as a direct or indirect object.
Is the word Before imperative?
No, Before is not imperative.
How many syllables are in Before?
There are two syllables in Before.
What is a stressed syllable in Before?
The second syllable "fore" is stressed.
What is another term for Before?
Prior to, earlier, beforehand.
Is Before a negative or positive word?
Before is neutral; it's neither inherently negative nor positive.
Is the Before term a metaphor?
Not inherently, but it can be used metaphorically in certain contexts.
Is the word Before a Gerund?
No, Before is not a gerund.
What part of speech is Before?
Before can be a preposition, conjunction, or adverb.
What is the opposite of Before?
After.
Is Before a collective noun?
No, Before is not a collective noun.
How is Before used in a sentence?
"I always brush my teeth before going to bed."
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
