earlier that day

USAGE SUMMARY

"earlier that day" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used already in context to signify something specific that happened earlier on the same day. For example: "I had been warned earlier that day to stay off the icy sidewalks, but I didn't take it seriously."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The last time I saw her was earlier that day.

The New York Times - Magazine

Earlier that day, he killed two students in a dormitory.

The New York Times

"We were together earlier that day," she said.

The New York Times

The movie was shown on HBO earlier that day.

The New York Times

A public church commemoration will be held earlier that day.

The Guardian

Earlier that day, she was in her cramped Midtown office.

The New York Times

The savoy cabbage had been pulled earlier that day.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I'd picked her up from her facility earlier that day.

The Guardian - Opinion

Come to our Social Currency Crunchup earlier that day instead.

TechCrunch

Earlier that day, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that raw human DNA is not patentable.

Science Magazine

Luckily, they didn't ask me about the electrophoresis gel I had run backwards earlier that day.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "earlier that day", ensure that the sequence of events is logical. The reader should easily understand which event occurred first.

Common error

Avoid using "earlier that day" when referring to events that happened on different days. It should only be used to describe events occurring on the same calendar day. If it's a different day, use phrases like "the day before" or "previously".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "earlier that day" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by specifying when an event occurred in relation to another event on the same day. Ludwig confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Reference

5%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "earlier that day" is a common and correct phrase used to specify that an event occurred on the same day, but before another event being referenced. According to Ludwig, this adverbial phrase functions to provide temporal context in a variety of registers from neutral to formal. It's frequently found in "News & Media" and scientific publications. When using this phrase, ensure you're referencing events within the same day to avoid confusion. Alternatives include "earlier in the day" and "previously that day". Remember that clarity and logical sequencing are key when employing this phrase in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Earlier in the day

Replaces "that" with "in the", subtly altering the phrasing while maintaining the same meaning.

Earlier on that day

Adds "on" for emphasis, making the time reference slightly more explicit.

Previously that day

Substitutes "earlier" with "previously", offering a slightly more formal tone.

That same day, earlier

Inverts the phrase structure for a stylistic variation.

Sometime earlier that day

Adds "sometime" to indicate an unspecified time earlier in the day.

Prior to that day

Uses a more formal tone by substituting "earlier" with "prior to".

Before that day was over

Offers a more descriptive alternative, emphasizing the time frame.

That day, beforehand

Highlights the sequence, mentioning the day first and then indicating the earlier time.

Earlier in the course of that day

Expands the phrase to emphasize the duration of the day.

The first part of that day

Focuses on the initial portion of the day, implying a contrast with a later part.

FAQs

How can I use "earlier that day" in a sentence?

Use "earlier that day" to refer to an event that happened on the same day as another event you've already mentioned. For example, "The meeting was scheduled for 3 PM, but "earlier that day", I had another appointment."

What's a more formal way to say "earlier that day"?

For a more formal tone, you could use "previously that day" or "prior to that day". Both of these options add a touch of formality while retaining the same meaning.

Is there a difference between "earlier that day" and "earlier that morning"?

While both phrases indicate a time in the past, "earlier that morning" is more specific and refers to the morning portion of the day. ""earlier that day"" is broader and can refer to any time before the current event on the same day.

What can I say instead of "earlier that day" to vary my writing?

You can use alternatives like "earlier in the day", "that morning" (if referring to the morning), or "before that day" to add variety to your writing while maintaining clarity.