Earlier meeting

USAGE SUMMARY

"Earlier meeting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a previously held meeting, such as, "We discussed the new project at our earlier meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

The broadcasts said Mr. Hussein, who was shown earlier meeting with top military officers, had awarded the dead man two posthumous medals.

The New York Times

"We'll have pearls for dessert," Merchant said at an earlier meeting to plan the curry convergence.

The New York Times - Magazine

When they next met at Placentia Bay in August 1941 it didn't help that Churchill had quite forgotten the earlier meeting, but Roosevelt decidedly had not.

The Guardian - Opinion

The sixth was not at that earlier meeting.

The New York Times - Health

His earlier meeting with Archbishop Williams was extremely brief.

The New York Times

(Google had invited him to an earlier meeting, in Washington).

The New Yorker

An earlier meeting between the environmental department and the advisory panel was canceled on Jan . 12

The New York Times

Then I recalled an earlier meeting with representatives of the Interior Ministry.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

He was upset with how an earlier meeting with Brewer was characterized in her book, "Scorpions for Breakfast" (full disclosure: my wife collaborated on the book).

Los Angeles Times

Yesterday, McLeodUSA posted a net loss for the second quarter of $131.7 million, compared with a loss of $125.7 million a year earlier, meeting expectations.

The New York Times

Waste Management said net income was $158 million, or 25 cents a share, compared with $39 million, or 6 cents a share, a year earlier, meeting analysts' expectations.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a specific "earlier meeting", ensure that the context clearly identifies which meeting you are referencing to avoid confusion. For example, mention the date, location, or purpose of the meeting.

Common error

Avoid using "earlier meeting" without providing enough context. Without sufficient details, readers may not understand which specific meeting you are referring to, leading to ambiguity. Be specific or restate the defining characteristic of the referenced meeting.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "earlier meeting" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence. It identifies a specific meeting that occurred before the current moment or topic of discussion. Ludwig provides examples that show this phrase in varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Science

2%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "earlier meeting" is a commonly used noun phrase to reference a prior meeting, serving to provide context or background information. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and versatility across various registers, most frequently appearing in news and media contexts. Related phrases like "previous meeting" and "prior meeting" offer similar meanings, though the specific choice may depend on the level of formality desired. When using "earlier meeting", clarity is paramount, so ensure the context sufficiently identifies the meeting being referenced. The frequency and range of sources found by Ludwig, including authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, underscore its widespread acceptance and utility in English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Previous meeting

Uses a different adjective to describe the timing of the meeting.

Prior meeting

Replaces "earlier" with a synonym indicating precedence.

Past meeting

Employs a simpler term to denote the meeting's occurrence in the past.

Initial meeting

Highlights that it was the first meeting of a series.

Previous engagement

Substitutes "meeting" with a more general term for a scheduled event.

Earlier session

Replaces "meeting" with "session", which may imply a more formal or structured gathering.

The meeting before

Rephrases to specify a meeting that happened directly before the current one.

Meeting held previously

Rearranges the phrase to emphasize the action of holding the meeting.

Meeting from before

Informal phrasing indicating a meeting that took place in the past.

First encounter

Describes the meeting as an initial interaction, focusing on the introductory aspect.

FAQs

How can I use "earlier meeting" in a sentence?

You can use "earlier meeting" to refer to a meeting that has already taken place, for example, "We discussed this topic in our earlier meeting."

What's a more formal way to say "earlier meeting"?

Depending on the context, alternatives such as "previous meeting" or "prior meeting" might be suitable in more formal settings.

Is it okay to use "earlier meeting" in professional writing?

Yes, "earlier meeting" is perfectly acceptable for professional writing, particularly when referring to a meeting that has already been clearly established in the context. Using "previous meeting" may sound slightly more formal.

What is the difference between "earlier meeting" and "later meeting"?

"Earlier meeting" refers to a meeting that occurred in the past, while "later meeting" refers to a meeting that will occur in the future.