already then

USAGE SUMMARY

"already then" is not a correct phrase in written English.
If you want to express that something had already happened before a certain point in time, you could say, "By then, it had already happened." For example, "By then, I had already started the project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"He was quite determined already then.

The Guardian - Sport

"I was going for No. 7 already then.

The New York Times - Sports

"Already then, Maxime was completely aware of everything".

Independent

Already then, banks' bad investments threatened financial stability.

The Guardian - Opinion

Already then, The Times reported, about half of the residents had fled.

The New York Times - Arts

Already then, before we even press "start", games are providing us with control.

The Guardian - Tech

If you have to know and can't guess already, then see "Angel-A".

The New York Times

Already then, it seems likely Flower will be playing a less hands-on role.

The Guardian - Sport

Mr. Ross has followed the career of Swope for the past 35 years; Swope was already then a legendary figure.

The New Yorker

France has teamed up with Russia on this issue in 2010 and already then the project triggered numerous protests.

The Economist

"Already then, I thought the Kimbell was the most exciting museum in the country," Mr. Lee said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While commonly used, consider replacing "already then" with more grammatically sound alternatives like "by that time" or "even then" for clearer and more precise writing.

Common error

Avoid using "already then" in formal writing. Its colloquial nature can undermine the credibility of your writing, especially in academic or professional contexts. Prefer alternatives like "by then" or "at that time".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "already then" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause, indicating the timing of an action or state. Though Ludwig AI identifies the phrase as grammatically questionable, its use indicates an attempt to specify a point in time relative to another.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Wiki

34%

Science

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "already then" is a commonly used expression to indicate something that was true at a particular point in the past. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. While it appears frequently in informal and neutral contexts like news articles and wikis, it is best to avoid it in formal or academic writing. Alternatives like "by that time", "even then", or "at that time" provide clearer and more grammatically sound options for expressing the same idea.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by that time

Highlights a point reached before something else happened.

prior to that

Indicates something happened before a specified time.

at that time

Focuses on a specific point in the past, replacing "already" with a direct temporal reference.

at that stage

Highlights a phase in a process or timeline.

even at that early stage

Emphasizes the earliness of the point in time, adding more detail.

at that point

Refers to a specific moment when something was true.

even at that moment

Stresses a particular moment when something was already the case.

as early as then

Emphasizes how early something was happening.

back then

A simpler, more informal way to refer to a past time.

in those days

Refers to a general period in the past.

FAQs

What does "already then" mean?

While not grammatically standard, "already then" generally means at a specific point in the past, something was the case, earlier than expected or assumed. Consider alternatives such as "by that time" or "even then".

Is "already then" grammatically correct?

According to standard English grammar, "already then" is not considered correct. More appropriate phrases include "by that time" or "even then".

When should I use "already then"?

It is better to avoid using "already then" in formal writing contexts. If you're aiming for clarity and precision, alternatives like "at that time" or "prior to that" are preferable.

What are some alternatives to "already then"?

Depending on the context, suitable replacements for "already then" include "even at that early stage", "by that time", or simply "back then".