already

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "already" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to an action or situation that has already taken place or has happened before. For example: "I already told you this morning that I wouldn't be able to make it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Film

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"East Coast is particularly sorry, too, for the inconvenience to its customers as a result on what we know is an already very busy travel day immediately following the Christmas break.

The Guardian - Business

An Oxford University spokesperson said: "The university is robustly defending this application on all grounds and Ms Ramey's application has already been refused permission on the papers.

The Guardian

The case has already been referred to the police ombudsman but, as the first minister has said, we should have a full, independent examination of the whole operation of this scheme.

The Guardian

"Drilling proposals in Sussex have already been turned down".

The Guardian - Business

Many already have.

The New York Times - Arts

He told Channel 4 News: "I've told you the first I became aware of this, and this is already on the public record, was when I received a phone call on Friday afternoon from a journalist making me aware of it".

The Guardian

Though Caine is a previous winner, Law is already thought to be a surefire bet for his performance as a wastrel American shipping heir in The Talented Mr Ripley.

The Guardian - Film

He was already on a life sentence for having killed his girlfriend, Myra Wright.

The Guardian

The Daily Express is already pro-Ukip, while the Sunday Express supports the Tories.

The Guardian

Political funds are already subject to approval being given in regular ballots by unions.

The Guardian

Searching for savings at the end of its term in government, Labor said it was indefinitely deferring the already legislated changes because the floating carbon price was forecast to be far lower than originally calculated and families did not need as much compensation.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "already" to emphasize that an action has been completed or a state exists before a certain time. This can add a sense of urgency or expectation to your writing.

Common error

Avoid placing "already" at the very beginning or end of a sentence unless you want to give it extra emphasis. It usually works best in the mid-position (e.g., 'I have already eaten').

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "already" is as an adverb of time. It modifies verbs, indicating that an action has been completed before a specific point in time. As Ludwig confirms, it indicates an action or situation that has already taken place.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Sport

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "already" functions as an adverb indicating that something has happened before a specific time. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used. Its versatility allows it to fit into various contexts, primarily appearing in News & Media sources and other general communication scenarios. While there are no inherent grammatical issues, remember to use alternative phrases like "previously" or "beforehand" for nuanced expression. Avoid misplacing it within sentences to ensure clarity and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previously

Focuses more on the temporal aspect, indicating something occurred at an earlier time.

earlier

Directly indicates a time prior to the present.

beforehand

Emphasizes preparation or action taken in advance.

by now

Suggests something should have happened or be completed at the present time.

as of now

Highlights the state of affairs at the current moment in relation to a past event.

up to now

Implies a duration leading to the present.

so far

Similar to 'up to now', but with a sense of continuation or expectation of future events.

as early as

Highlights the fact that something happened sooner than expected.

in advance

Focuses on preparing something before a particular event or time.

long ago

Indicates something happened far in the past.

FAQs

How do you use "already" in a sentence?

"Already" is typically used to indicate that something has happened before a specific time. For instance, "I have "already finished" my homework" means that the action of finishing homework occurred before the moment of speaking.

What words can I use instead of "already"?

Alternatives to "already" include "previously", "beforehand", or "earlier". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "already now"?

While "already" and "now" can both refer to the present time, using "already now" together is usually redundant. "Already" often implies 'by now', so using them together can sound awkward. It's generally better to use one or the other.

What's the difference between "already" and "yet"?

"Already" suggests that something has happened sooner than expected, while "yet" suggests that something hasn't happened but is expected to happen. For example, "Have you finished your homework yet?" implies you expect the homework to be done soon, while "I have already finished my homework" indicates it's done before the expected time.