Earlier today

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Earlier today" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to events or actions that occurred at some point earlier in the same day. Example: "Earlier today, I received an important email regarding the project deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science & Research

Tech

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

Earlier today, Mr. Barak visited Gilo.

The New York Times

Earlier today, Russia beat Belarus, 6-4.

The New York Times - Sports

Earlier today @ReutersTech was hacked and changed to @ReutersME.

The New York Times

"Earlier today, I went shopping at some stores in Midtown.

The New York Times

Earlier today.

Forbes

"Earlier today we had a very productive meeting.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

She did so earlier this year.

The New York Times

Barcelona face Getafe earlier tomorrow.

Independent

Delta Air Lines announced something similar earlier this year.

The Economist

I called her one morning earlier this year.

The New Yorker

Earlier last year he traveled to Israel.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For maximum clarity in reports, combine "Earlier today" with specific times. For instance, "Earlier today at 9:00 AM, the committee convened".

Common error

Avoid using "Earlier today" when you actually mean yesterday or another recent day. Using the phrase incorrectly can lead to temporal ambiguity and confuse your reader. Be sure to verify which day the event took place.

Linguistic Context

Earlier today" functions as an adverbial phrase specifying when an action or event occurred. This phrase modifies a verb or clause by providing a temporal context. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science & Research

15%

Tech

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "Earlier today" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate that something occurred before the present moment on the current day. According to Ludwig AI, it is suitable for a neutral register and frequently appears in news, scientific, and tech-related contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that it accurately reflects the time of the event and avoid confusing it with references to other days. For better clarity, especially in formal writing, combine "Earlier today" with specific times. Furthermore, be aware of similar phrases like "this morning" and how they might provide different nuances to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Earlier this morning

Specifies the time frame more precisely to the morning portion of the current day.

Earlier in the day

Emphasizes the contrast with the current time of day.

This morning

Similar to "Earlier this morning" but can also encompass the entire morning period.

A few hours ago

Focuses on the recency of the event, less specific than "Earlier today".

Previously today

A more formal way to indicate an event that happened earlier in the day.

Sometime today

Less precise, indicating an unspecified time within the current day.

Just today

Highlights that something happened only today and not before.

This very day

Emphasizes the fact that the event took place on the current day.

Within the day

Implies the event occurred within the current 24-hour period.

Before now today

Directly contrasts the timing of the event with the current moment of the day.

FAQs

How can I use "Earlier today" in a sentence?

You can use "Earlier today" to refer to an event that happened at some point before the present time on the current day. For example, "Earlier today, the CEO announced the company's new sustainability initiative".

What's a more formal way to say "Earlier today"?

While "Earlier today" is generally acceptable in most contexts, a more formal alternative could be "Earlier this day" or, depending on the context, specifying the time such as "This morning".

What can I say instead of "Earlier today" if the event happened yesterday?

If the event happened the previous day, use "Yesterday" or "The day before today". If it happened multiple days ago, specify the exact date or use phrases like "Several days ago".

How does "Earlier today" compare to "Later today"?

"Earlier today" refers to something that has already happened on the current day, while "Later today" refers to something that will happen on the current day. They are opposite in temporal direction.