comes early

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "comes early" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an event or occurrence that happens before the expected or usual time. Example: "The train usually arrives at 8 AM, but today it comes early at 7:30 AM."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

But 5 a.m. comes early.

The New York Times

Monday morning comes early.

The New York Times

He comes early.

The New York Times - Sports

A scene-stealing moment comes early on.

The New York Times - Arts

Now darkness comes early and snow often.

The Economist

DARKNESS comes early these days.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

The contest received disproportionate attention because it comes early-on Feb. 28 this year.

The New Yorker

They came early.

The New York Times

"We came early.

The New York Times

"You came early".

The New Yorker

"Roland?" "He came early.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "comes early" to emphasize that an event or phenomenon is occurring sooner than is typical or expected. This can create a sense of urgency or surprise for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "comes early" when you simply mean "is early". For example, say "the meeting is early" instead of "the meeting comes early" if you are just stating the meeting's scheduled time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "comes early" functions primarily as a verb phrase, indicating that something is happening or arriving before its expected or usual time. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is used in a grammatically correct manner to express the concept of earliness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

6%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "comes early" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to denote that something happens or arrives before the expected time. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides numerous examples from reliable sources, primarily in news and media. While generally neutral in tone, its specific register depends on the context. Use "comes early" to emphasize earliness and create a sense of surprise or urgency, and be mindful of the specific nuances when choosing alternatives such as "arrives prematurely" or "happens ahead of schedule".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

arrives prematurely

Replaces "comes" with "arrives" and uses the adverb "prematurely" to emphasize the early arrival.

occurs sooner than expected

Replaces "comes" with "occurs" and adds "than expected" for clarity.

happens ahead of schedule

Substitutes "comes" with "happens" and uses the phrase "ahead of schedule" to denote earliness.

begins ahead of time

Replaces "comes" with "begins" and uses "ahead of time" to convey the early start.

starts prematurely

Similar to "arrives prematurely", but uses "starts" instead of "arrives".

emerges before the due date

Replaces "comes" with "emerges" and specifies earliness as "before the due date".

materializes in advance

Substitutes "comes" with "materializes", offering a more formal tone and indicating something becoming real or apparent earlier.

is advanced

Uses a passive construction, framing the event as being moved to an earlier time.

supervenes betimes

Uses a formal, somewhat archaic word, "betimes" to indicate earliness.

unfolds prematurely

Replaces "comes" with "unfolds", giving a sense of an event developing earlier than anticipated.

FAQs

How can I use "comes early" in a sentence?

You can use "comes early" to indicate that something happens before the expected time. For example, "Darkness "comes early" these days" or "If spring "comes early", mosquitoes hatch earlier and summer populations are larger."

What are some alternatives to saying "comes early"?

Alternatives include "arrives prematurely", "occurs sooner than expected", or "happens ahead of schedule", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is there a difference between "comes early" and "is early"?

"Comes early" often implies a process or event happening ahead of its usual time, while "is early" simply describes something as being scheduled or existing at an earlier time. For instance, "The train comes early" suggests the train is arriving before its scheduled time, whereas "The train is early" simply states the train's arrival time.

What does it mean when someone says "Christmas "comes early""?

Saying "Christmas "comes early"" is an idiom that means someone has received a pleasant surprise or good fortune unexpectedly, similar to receiving Christmas gifts before Christmas.