earlier pledges

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "earlier pledges" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to commitments or promises made in the past. For example, "The organization is still working to fulfill its earlier pledges." Alternative expressions include "previous commitments" and "prior promises."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

The major industrialized powers also repeated earlier pledges.

The New York Times - Science

The document, published on 13 April 2010, effectively reiterates a number of the party's earlier pledges on government IT policies.

The Guardian

Admirable as Tesla's decision (and earlier pledges by other technology leaders, notably Twitter) may be, it's hardly revolutionary.

The Washington Post

Uganda's president, Yoweri Museveni, has been in power since 1987, and is seeking yet another five-year term, after breaking earlier pledges to step down.

The New Yorker

The Bangladeshi government also vowed to upgrade safety standards and revise labor laws to allow unions to form, after a multitude of earlier pledges went largely unfilled.

The New York Times

(Update: As of Thursday morning, that total had dipped to a little more than forty thousand dollars, with some earlier pledges having been cancelled).

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

An earlier pledge, made in Paris four months before, would have impressed him more.

The Economist

The Spanish government repeated its earlier pledge to retaliate, though it did not specify how.

The New York Times

His daughter has played down an earlier pledge to seek an amnesty for him.

The Economist

That would mean revoking an earlier pledge not to challenge the current Republican governor, Jane Swift.

The Economist

Mr Prodi had earlier pledged to cut unit labour costs by five percentage points.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the status of fulfilling promises, use "earlier pledges" to clearly refer to commitments made at a specific point in the past.

Common error

Avoid using "earlier pledges" when referring to ongoing or current commitments. This phrase specifically highlights promises made in the past that may or may not have been fulfilled.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "earlier pledges" functions as a noun phrase, where "earlier" modifies the noun "pledges". It typically acts as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence to denote previously made promises or commitments, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Formal & Business

15%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "earlier pledges" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to refer to promises or commitments made in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is categorized as correct and exhibits a neutral register, commonly appearing in news and media, as well as formal business contexts. The phrase serves the purpose of referencing and evaluating past commitments, often to assess their fulfillment. When using "earlier pledges", ensure you're specifically referring to past promises and not current obligations. Consider alternatives like "previous commitments" or "prior promises" for nuanced variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

past pledges

A shorter and slightly less formal way to say "earlier pledges".

initial pledges

Focuses on the pledges made at the beginning.

previous commitments

Focuses on the act of committing to something in the past, using a more formal tone.

prior promises

Highlights the aspect of promising something before, providing a slightly more emphatic tone.

earlier assurances

Emphasizes the act of giving confidence or certainty in the past.

past undertakings

Focuses on the actions or projects that were agreed upon previously, providing a more formal tone.

former guarantees

Highlights the aspect of guaranteeing something in the past, providing a more emphatic tone.

initial agreements

Emphasizes the original agreements that were made, focusing on the starting point.

original vows

Focuses on solemn promises or pledges made at the beginning, adding a sense of formality.

previous assurances

Highlights the act of assuring something before, providing a slightly more emphatic tone.

FAQs

How to use "earlier pledges" in a sentence?

You can use "earlier pledges" to refer to past commitments that are being discussed or evaluated. For example, "The government is facing scrutiny for failing to deliver on its earlier pledges to reduce carbon emissions."

What can I say instead of "earlier pledges"?

You can use alternatives like "previous commitments", "prior promises", or "initial agreements" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "earlier pledges" or "early pledges"?

"Earlier pledges" is the correct and more common phrase to use when referring to commitments made at a specific point in the past. "Early pledges" is less precise and may imply pledges made at the beginning of a process or period.

What's the difference between "earlier pledges" and "past commitments"?

While both phrases refer to previous undertakings, "earlier pledges" emphasizes the act of promising or vowing, while "past commitments" focuses more broadly on the obligations or responsibilities that were assumed.