earlier that evening

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "earlier that evening" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to events that occurred on the same day, specifically in the evening prior to the current moment in the narrative. Example: "As she sat in the café, she couldn't help but think about the conversation they had earlier that evening."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Caroline had complained of stomach pains earlier that evening but after a hot bath said she felt better and told Paul to leave with his brothers.

Independent

On Facebook on Sunday, Sinéad O'Connor wrote that earlier that evening a duck had interrupted her concert.

The New Yorker

One of the dancing Bison, a thirteen-year-old named Michael Howard, had earlier that evening told me a secret.

The New Yorker

Officers had been called to a burglary in Birkenhead earlier that evening and pursued a red Mitsubishi pick-up from the scene.

Independent

The man admitted smoking earlier that evening and was booked for driving under the influence.

Los Angeles Times

Recalling the chipper hug that Michael gave her earlier that evening, she shook her head.

The New York Times - Magazine

Earlier that evening, Mr. Quinn had even cadged 20 minutes with the president to make his case.

The New York Times

Earlier that evening, Oscar had taken photos of Nick that showed a pinkish-red orb above his head.

Vice

At a briefing earlier that evening, a captain told Mr. Pogan and other young officers that they needed to issue summonses, Mr. London said.

The New York Times

The first was intact and standing where Mr. Bogdan had left it earlier that evening.

The New York Times

Earlier that evening, he welcomed the restaurateur and raconteur Eddie Schoenfeld of RedFarm.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "earlier that evening" to clearly establish a sequence of events occurring on the same day. It helps to create a timeline for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "earlier that evening" when referring to a different day or a much earlier time in general. Ensure the context clearly indicates the same day to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "earlier that evening" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb by specifying when an action took place. It provides a temporal reference, indicating that an event occurred on the same day but before the time currently under discussion. Ludwig provides many examples of this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Wiki

3%

Science

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "earlier that evening" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adverbial phrase used to specify a prior event on the same day. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides numerous examples. It is most frequently found in News & Media contexts and serves to establish a chronological order of events. For more formal settings, consider alternatives like "the preceding evening", and be mindful to use it when the reference to the same day's evening is clear to avoid confusion. When aiming for clarity and chronological precision, "earlier that evening" is a reliable choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that evening before

This alternative reorders the words while maintaining a similar meaning, focusing on the sequence of events.

previously that evening

Replaces "earlier" with "previously", emphasizing the temporal precedence.

that same evening

Replaces "earlier that evening" with "that same evening" as an alternative expression.

the evening prior

Uses "prior" instead of "earlier" to denote the same evening at a previous time.

earlier in the night

Substitutes "evening" with "night", maintaining the temporal context.

on that evening before

Adds "on" for emphasis, slightly altering the structure but keeping the core meaning.

the preceding evening

Uses a more formal tone replacing "earlier" with "preceding".

in the first part of the evening

More descriptive version of the original phrase using "first part" rather than "earlier".

before the close of day

Offers a more figurative way of referring to events before the end of the day, more generic.

some hours before that night

Changes sentence structure to emphasize hours before rather than time of day.

FAQs

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

Use "earlier that evening" to refer back to an event that happened on the same day, before the current moment being described. For example, "I had dinner with friends earlier that evening".

What phrases are similar to "earlier that evening"?

You can use phrases like "previously that evening", "that same evening", or "the evening prior" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "early that evening" instead of "earlier that evening"?

While "early that evening" is understandable, "earlier that evening" is more precise when referring to a specific event that happened before another on the same evening. If you say "early that evening" you are referring to a generic moment in the beginning of that evening, while "earlier that evening" refers to a specific event.

What's the difference between "earlier that day" and "earlier that evening"?

"Earlier that day" refers to any time before the current moment within the same day, while "earlier that evening" specifically refers to a time period within the same evening, before the current event being described.