considerably earlier

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "considerably earlier" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something occurred at a significantly earlier time compared to another reference point. Example: "The meeting was scheduled considerably earlier than the usual time, allowing for more discussion."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"This is considerably earlier than expected," Tuck said.

The Guardian

Meanwhile, the curves for louver fin decreased considerably earlier than those for wavy fin.

Applied Thermal Engineering

In some states it's considerably earlier — Louisiana starts classes at around 7 40 a.m., on average.

The Washington Post

Our curfew was considerably earlier than our friends' and our punishment was usually the worst.

The New York Times

The average corn planting date is considerably earlier now compared to 25 years ago, especially in the Midwest USA.

Cornell University

I would have drawn the line considerably earlier than Winterbottom, and this remains one of my criticisms.

The Guardian - Film

So he decided to make bubbly, which uses grapes picked considerably earlier and less ripe than dry table wines.

The Washington Post

In March 1897 Chekhov had suffered a lung hemorrhage caused by tuberculosis, symptoms of which had become apparent considerably earlier.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The modeled maximum backscatter coefficient in summer 2001 also shows one distinctive maximum but considerably earlier (2 LT).

Advances in Space Research

Elsewhere in France, Val Thorens, Montgenèvre and Chamonix are among the resorts that kicked off their seasons this weekend, considerably earlier than normal.

The Guardian - Travel

TalkTalk was attacked on 21 October, although they have described the attack as "significant and sustained", perhaps indicating that the initial criminal access may have begun considerably earlier.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "considerably earlier" to clearly indicate a significant difference in time between two events, ensuring the context highlights this difference.

Common error

Avoid using "considerably earlier" without providing a clear reference point. The phrase's impact is diminished if the reader cannot easily understand what is being referred to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "considerably earlier" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifically intensifying the adjective "earlier". It indicates that something occurred at a time significantly preceding another.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "considerably earlier" is a grammatically correct and frequently used adverbial modifier that emphasizes a substantial time difference between two events. As highlighted by Ludwig, its usage spans across diverse contexts, from academic research to news reporting. Although suitable for formal and informal settings, it is essential to ensure that the context clearly defines the points of comparison. Alternatives such as ""significantly sooner"" or ""much sooner"" can be used depending on the desired emphasis. With Ludwig confirming its validity and widespread application, "considerably earlier" remains a reliable choice for expressing temporal precedence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significantly sooner

Emphasizes the degree of earliness more strongly.

much sooner

A simpler and more direct way of expressing the same idea.

well in advance

Highlights preparation and being ahead of schedule.

long before

Stresses the duration of time separating the events.

appreciably before

Similar in meaning, but less common in everyday language.

markedly sooner

Emphasizes the noticeable difference in time.

distinctly before

Highlights the clarity of the temporal difference.

substantially before

Emphasizes the amount of time that has passed.

noticeably earlier

Highlights the ease with which the time difference can be noted.

vastly sooner

Emphasizes a great difference in time.

FAQs

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

Use "considerably earlier" to show that something happened a significant amount of time before something else. For example, "The deadline was "considerably earlier" this year than last year".

What are some alternatives to "considerably earlier"?

Alternatives include "significantly sooner", "much sooner", or "well in advance", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "considerable earlier" instead of "considerably earlier"?

No, "considerable earlier" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is ""considerably earlier"", where "considerably" is an adverb modifying "earlier".

What's the difference between "earlier" and "considerably earlier"?

"Earlier" simply indicates something happened before another point in time. "Considerably earlier" emphasizes that the time difference is substantial or noteworthy.