What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
harbinger
Example
The first snowfall is often seen as a harbinger of winter. [harbinger: noun]
Example
The sudden drop in temperature was a harbinger of the coming storm. [harbinger: adjective]
precursor
Example
The steam engine was a precursor to modern transportation. [precursor: noun]
Example
The rise of social media was a precursor to the current era of digital communication. [precursor: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Precursor is less common than harbinger in everyday language, but it is still a useful word to know for academic or technical writing.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between harbinger and precursor?
Both harbinger and precursor are formal words that are more likely to be used in written rather than spoken language. However, harbinger may be more commonly used in informal contexts as well.
