Learn English – Is using ‘prior’ wrong with booking, appointment, approval etc

phrase-usageredundancyword-usage

I don't remember, but someone here on this site commented that you don't require to use 'prior' (or for that sake 'pre') for booking, appointment, approval, permission etc.

I thought it for a while and admit that that is true!

"You need to have a prior appointment to meet the chief minister" ~ why prior? appointment is appointment, it's always made in advance!

So…

prior booking = booking
prior appointment = appointment
prior approval = approval
prior permission = permission, and so on…

I want to discuss this with the natives here. Is it redundant to use 'prior' in all such cases. Also, can you come up with an example where using 'prior' does make the difference or it's mandatory?

Best Answer

I don't find the use of prior redundant at all in such circumstances. And appointments aren't "always" made in advance. Consider this dialog:

I would like to see the chief minister, please.
I'm sorry, but you need to have an appointment to meet the chief minister.
Oh, okay. Can I make an appointment right now?
No, I'm not the person who schedules the appointments.

If the person had answered by saying prior appointment, that would have clued me in that the appointment should have been made in advance, and that walk-in appointments weren't granted.

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