comfortably early

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "comfortably early" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe arriving at a place or completing a task with ample time to spare, suggesting a sense of ease and relaxation about the timing. Example: "I prefer to arrive at the airport comfortably early to avoid any last-minute stress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

A week earlier, Christine C. Quinn, the City Council speaker, who has been leading comfortably in early polls, announced her candidacy through Twitter and a video, then visited all five boroughs for a "walk and talk" tour.

The New York Times

So whereas Tony Blair comfortably survived early left-wing revolts, over a miserly increase to the basic state pension and cuts to single parents' benefit, the 10p guerrillas rapidly extracted their concessions.

The Economist

Among the contenders who are likely to trail comfortably behind the early runners are the undefeated Gemologist (6-1) and Union Rags (9-2).

The New York Times - Sports

This was designed primarily to keep his government afloat, but also to position him comfortably if an early election becomes unavoidable.

The Economist

The Republic of Ireland have settled far more comfortably in the early stages, which is hardly surprising considering what a massive night this is for their comparatively inexperienced opponents.

The Guardian - Sport

His first feature, Le Signe du Lion (The Sign of Leo), completed in 1959 after one false start and a handful of shorts, fitted comfortably into the early new wave formula of Parisian life, with its tale of a student musician, tempted into debt by a promised inheritance, who lapses into abject destitution after the legacy turns out to be a hoax.

The Guardian - Film

They would have made $180-a-year 180-a-year 180-a-yearsaversed for early retirement.

Forbes

Hibs were in a hurry to get the ball forward but the visiting defence coped comfortably with the early series of long balls aimed at their penalty box.

BBC

For mass-market adoption, AR glasses will need to be priced comfortably under $1,000; early adopters are likely to opt for a pair of high-functioning glasses if they cost about the same as a high-end phone ($700 to $900).

TechCrunch

I'm comfortably into my early 30s, yet even at this considerable age I've so far managed to avoid a full-blown nuclear apocalypse.

Vice

Further, the probability that Labor takes Melbourne from the Greens has fallen to about 60% from comfortably over 70% earlier in the campaign.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "comfortably early" to emphasize not just punctuality, but also the lack of stress or rush in arriving or completing something ahead of schedule. This implies a proactive and well-managed approach.

Common error

While "comfortably early" is acceptable, avoid overusing it in highly formal or academic writing. Alternatives like "well in advance" or /s/in+good+time are often more appropriate for maintaining a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "comfortably early" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying how early something is done. It modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to indicate the manner or degree of earliness. According to Ludwig, the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "comfortably early" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, though Ludwig indicates it is more suitable for general or informal contexts. It functions as an adverbial modifier to describe doing something with ample time to spare, conveying a sense of ease and preparedness. While alternatives like "well in advance" or "in good time" might be preferable in formal settings, "comfortably early" is effective in expressing a relaxed approach to time management. Key sources using this phrase include The New York Times, The Economist, and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

well in advance

Focuses on being ahead of schedule.

with time to spare

Highlights the availability of extra time.

sufficiently early

Emphasizes adequacy in timing.

in good time

Implies punctuality and readiness.

nicely early

Adds a touch of pleasantness.

pleasantly early

Similar to 'nicely early' but more formal.

safely early

Highlights the security and certainty of early arrival.

considerably early

Indicates a significant margin of earliness.

easily early

Suggests that getting there early didn't require effort.

with plenty of time

Highlights having a large amount of time before a deadline.

FAQs

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

You can use "comfortably early" to describe arriving with ample time to spare, such as, "I like to arrive at the airport "comfortably early" to avoid any stress."

What are some alternatives to "comfortably early"?

Consider using phrases like "well in advance", "with time to spare", or "in good time" as alternatives to "comfortably early", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

In what situations is it best to use "comfortably early"?

Use "comfortably early" when you want to emphasize not just being on time, but also the relaxed and unhurried nature of arriving or completing something ahead of schedule. It suggests a proactive approach to time management.

Is "comfortably early" appropriate for formal writing?

While acceptable, "comfortably early" might be considered less formal. For business or academic contexts, using terms such as "sufficiently early" or "well in advance" might be more suitable.