an early draft of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an early draft of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a preliminary version of a document, manuscript, or piece of work that is not yet finalized. Example: "I submitted an early draft of my research paper to my professor for feedback."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

An anonymous referee made valuable comments on an early draft of the paper.

Plosone

Twenty-three days later, John Major approved an early draft of Maastricht.

The Guardian

Those findings had previously been reported, based on an early draft of the document.

The New York Times

The Adjunct remembered discussing an early draft of "The Suction" in workshop.

The Guardian - Books

In an early draft of the script, Morris explains, the characters were older.

The Guardian - Film

Carter, however, assumed that Hank was a character from an early draft of Mockingbird.

The Guardian - Books

remove an early draft of the report from its Web site and conduct another scientific review.

The New York Times

But he still had an early draft of Beautiful Thing – quite literally in his closet.

The Guardian

I read an early draft of Revolution and it feels like a love letter to Khan.

The Guardian

Its launch of an early draft of that alternative plan was badly bungled.

The Guardian

At a key meeting to discuss an early draft of the report, held in Japan in March, an administration official rejected an early draft of the report and submitted a new executive summary prepared in Washington, the people involved said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When providing feedback on someone's work, specify that you are reviewing "an early draft of" the document to manage expectations about its completeness.

Common error

Avoid treating "an early draft of" a document as the definitive version. Recognize that it is subject to revisions and further development.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an early draft of" functions as a determiner phrase that modifies a noun, specifying that the noun is a preliminary version. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and widely usable. Examples from Ludwig include instances where it modifies documents, scripts, reports, and plans.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an early draft of" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase that signifies a preliminary version of a document or plan. According to Ludwig AI, it's suitable for various contexts, though it appears most frequently in News & Media and Scientific sources. When using this phrase, it's crucial to set appropriate expectations, recognizing that "an early draft of" is subject to revisions. Alternatives like "a preliminary version of" or "a rough draft of" can be used for slight variations in emphasis. Remember to avoid treating "an early draft of" as a final product, and use it judiciously when seeking feedback or collaboration.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a preliminary version of

Replaces "early" with "preliminary", emphasizing the initial stage.

a rough draft of

Substitutes "early" with "rough", highlighting the unpolished nature of the draft.

an initial version of

Uses "initial version" instead of "early draft", focusing on the starting point.

a first draft of

Replaces "early" with "first", specifying the order of the draft.

a prototype of

Shifts the context to a model or experimental version.

a working draft of

Suggests a draft that is currently being worked on or developed.

an incomplete version of

Emphasizes that the draft is not yet finished or comprehensive.

a formative version of

Highlights the developmental stage of the draft.

an unpolished version of

Focuses on the lack of refinement in the draft.

a sketch of

Implies a basic outline or summary, rather than a full draft.

FAQs

How can I use "an early draft of" in a sentence?

You can use "an early draft of" to refer to a preliminary version of a document. For example, "I reviewed "an early draft of" the report and provided feedback."

What are some alternatives to saying "an early draft of"?

Some alternatives include "a preliminary version of", "a rough draft of", or "an initial version of" depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "an early draft of" and "a final draft of"?

"An early draft of" refers to a preliminary version that is subject to change, while "a final draft of" indicates the completed and approved version of a document.

When is it appropriate to share "an early draft of" a document?

It's appropriate to share "an early draft of" a document when seeking feedback, collaboration, or initial review, but ensure recipients understand it's not the finished product.