Learn English – How to explain when one event affects something else, and then something else again

word-choiceword-request

This might be a strange question.

I want to compare something happening at the moment with another thing done a little earlier, and again with something done even earlier, etc.

So, I guess I should use the terms "current", "previously". Is this correct?

As my original post might be confused the reader, I am adding my problematic sentence as;

When a mis-match arises, then the previously fixed edge should be
fixed again with respect to the current edge and the edge before that
with respect to the previous edge etc.

My confusion is how to mention the one before previous value, and the two before previous value, and so on…. any way to say this. Any rectification on my sentence please?

Best Answer

You might use the term ripple effect.

ripple effect: a situation in which one thing causes a series of other things to happen

So you could word your sentence like this:

A mismatch has a ripple effect: the current edge should be fixed with respect to the previously-fixed edge, which will need to be reaffixed to the edge before that, etc.

Yet another phrase you might use is chain reaction:

A mismatch will cause a chain reaction: the current edge should be fixed with respect to the previously-fixed edge, which will need to be reaffixed to the edge before that, etc.

Collins defines chain reaction as:

chain reaction: a series of rapidly occurring events, each of which precipitates the next

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