at earlier

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at earlier" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to time in the past. For example: "I had gone to bed at earlier than usual."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

into BIM model at earlier phases.

Visualization in Engineering

Local night Pc3 dominates at earlier MLT.

Earth, Planets and Space

Girls tend to own phones at earlier ages.

Forbes

This is true at the end of TSL and at earlier stages, i.e. fractions of TSL.

Marine Structures

At earlier stages, they affect cell lineage decisions and at later stages, they inhibit cell specialization.

Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience

The difference between the 2 groups was higher at earlier gestations.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

TGFβ enhances sprout length at earlier times, although its effect gradually disappears over time.

Journal of Biomechanics

Klotho gene expression was significantly decreased at 24 months, but not at earlier timepoints.

Mechanisms of Ageing and Development

However, tectal direction selectivity is severely perturbed at earlier developmental stages.

Neuron

At earlier stages of deformation, microvoids nucleated at bigger inclusions, and grew up independently.

Journal of Iron and Steel Research, International

As the fraction of occupied patches increased, patches were colonized and abandoned at earlier ages.

Biological Conservation

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at earlier" to clearly indicate precedence in time, stage, or development, ensuring clarity and avoiding ambiguity in your writing. For example, "intervention at earlier stages can significantly improve outcomes."

Common error

Avoid using "at earlier" without a clear reference point for comparison. Always ensure the context establishes what is being compared to what, to prevent confusion. For example, instead of "treatment at earlier was effective", specify "treatment at earlier stages was more effective than at later stages".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at earlier" functions primarily as an adverbial modifier, specifying when something occurs relative to another point in time or a sequence of events. It provides temporal context, indicating that an action or state precedes another. Ludwig AI highlights its usage in varied scientific and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

85%

News & Media

8%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at earlier" serves as a vital temporal marker, predominantly used to establish sequence and precedence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is prevalent in diverse scientific contexts but also appears in news and formal business settings. When using "at earlier", ensure clarity by providing a clear reference point for comparison and considering formal alternatives like "prior to" for enhanced precision. By following these insights, you can effectively utilize "at earlier" to improve the temporal precision of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prior to

Highlights a formal and direct sense of precedence, suitable for academic and professional settings.

ahead of time

Stresses acting or preparing before a deadline or expected occurrence.

beforehand

Indicates actions taken or conditions existing previously, often in preparation for something else.

sooner

Implies a comparative timing, indicating something happened or should happen more quickly.

in advance of

Focuses on the act of coming before in time; emphasizes preparation or anticipation.

in anticipation of

Highlights planning and preparation for future events or conditions.

previously

Emphasizes a state or action that occurred at an unspecified time in the past, relative to a reference point.

in the past

Broadly refers to anything that has happened or existed before the present.

in former times

Evokes a sense of historical context, referring to periods long past.

in days gone by

Refers nostalgically to past eras or events, often with a sentimental tone.

FAQs

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

You can use "at earlier" to indicate a time or stage that precedes another. For example, "Detection "at earlier stages" of the disease improves the prognosis."

What's a formal alternative to "at earlier"?

A more formal alternative would be "prior to" or "previously". For instance, instead of "treated "at earlier", they recovered faster", you could say "treated prior to, they recovered faster".

Is it correct to say "at earlier time" instead of "at an earlier time"?

While "at earlier time" might be understood, "at an earlier time" is grammatically more correct and provides clearer communication.

How does "at earlier stages" compare to "in earlier stages"?

"At earlier stages" is typically used to denote a specific point or phase, whereas "in earlier stages" refers more broadly to the period encompassing those stages. Both are grammatically acceptable but may subtly shift the focus of the statement.