but not late

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but not late" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to specify that something should occur on time or within a certain timeframe, but not after the designated time. Example: "Please arrive on time, but not late, as the meeting will start promptly at 9 AM."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Western blotting demonstrated increased Akt phosphorylation with flow in early, but not late, passage EC (n = 6, P = 0.01).

Journal of Surgical Research

Early abundance for both aphids and hoverflies was positively related to wood cover, but not late abundance in spring.

Biological Control

We hypothesized that co-morbid anxiety disorders would be particularly predictive for early relapse, but not late relapse.

European Psychiatry

Together, these data show that catalytically active LSD1 is essential for early but not late adipogenesis.

Nature

In general, and compared with G, GPG decreased plasma NEFA concentrations after infusions and PG decreased plasma NEFA concentrations early but not late after infusions.

Journal of Dairy Science

We demonstrate the SloVAR model on a sample of clinically depressed and normal controls, showing that early but not late cortico amygdala connectivity appears crucial to emotional control and early but not late cortico cortico connectivity predicts depression severity in the depressed group, relationships that would have been missed in a more traditional VAR analysis.

NeuroImage

Evening would do, Ms. Fishburn said, but not late night: vegetable greens don't like to stay damp in the dark.

The New York Times

Some, including tetradecanoic acid, were found early but not late in the decomposition process, while others, such as acetic and propanoic acid, were found late but not early.

The Economist

The correlation analysis revealed that the BDNF concentration had a negative correlation with 50% PWT in early stage (0 48 h) (r = -0.974, p = 0.001), but not late stage (3 28 days) (r = 0.3395, p = 0.6605), after SNL.

Experimental Neurology

Early, but not late relapse, was more frequent in patients transplanted for advanced lymphoma, and both early and late relapses were increased among patients with impaired pretransplant clinical performance or high-grade histology of lymphoma.

Duke University

The widely accepted kinetic proofreading theory proposes that rapid TCR dissociation from a peptide/MHC ligand allows for stimulation of early but not late T cell activation events, explaining why low-affinity TCR ligands are poor agonists.

Duke University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "but not late" to set a clear expectation for timeliness, especially when paired with a specific time or deadline. For example, "Please submit your reports by Friday, but not late, to ensure timely processing."

Common error

Avoid using "but not late" in contexts where the concept of lateness is subjective or undefined. If there's no clearly defined deadline, the phrase loses its effectiveness. Instead, use alternatives that emphasize proactive behavior, such as "being on time" or "acting promptly".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but not late" functions as a conjunctive phrase used to emphasize the importance of adhering to a specific time or deadline. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

74%

News & Media

14%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "but not late" is a commonly used conjunctive phrase that emphasizes the significance of punctuality and adherence to deadlines. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely employed across scientific, news, and business contexts. When using this phrase, ensure there's a clearly defined timeframe. Replace with alternatives like "but on time" or "but not tardy", depending on the situation. Be mindful of the level of formality. Overall, this simple phrase can effectively convey the need for timeliness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

but not tardy

Replaces "late" with a slightly more formal synonym, "tardy", while maintaining the same meaning.

but not behind schedule

Substitutes "late" with a more descriptive phrase, emphasizing adherence to a timeline.

but not after the deadline

Replaces "late" by specifying a deadline.

but not beyond the due time

Offers a more formal and precise restatement of the original condition.

but on time

Suggests punctuality as a condition, directly contrasting with being late.

but not at a later time

Rephrases "late" as a negation of a subsequent moment, indicating promptness.

but not subsequently

Replaces "late" with an adverb indicating that something should not occur afterward.

but not lagging

Replaces "late" with an adjective, conveying the avoidance of being behind or delayed.

but not eventually

Focuses on immediacy, differing from the implication of "late" by highlighting the need for prompt action.

but not after the appointed hour

A formal alternative, emphasizing that something must occur at or before the set time.

FAQs

How can I use "but not late" in a sentence?

You can use "but not late" to emphasize the importance of timeliness, as in "Please submit your application by the deadline, "but not late", to be considered for the position."

What are some alternatives to "but not late"?

Alternatives include "but on time", "but not tardy", or "but before the deadline", depending on the level of formality and specificity required.

Is it redundant to say "but not late" after specifying a deadline?

While specifying a deadline implies avoiding lateness, adding ""but not late"" can provide extra emphasis on the importance of meeting that deadline. It serves as a clear warning against any delays.

What's the difference between "but not late" and "but not earlier"?

"But not late" focuses on avoiding delays, while "but not earlier" emphasizes adhering to a specific start time or avoiding premature actions. They address opposite ends of a timing spectrum.