earlier this month

USAGE SUMMARY

"earlier this month" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to refer to any events or activities that occurred during or before the first few days of the current month. Example Sentence: I went to the store earlier this month and bought a new pair of shoes.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

Earlier this month, he called.

The New Yorker

Heat opened earlier this month.

The New York Times

But earlier this month, Capt.

The New York Times

Tenzig died earlier this month.

The New Yorker

Tenants began moving in earlier this month.

The New York Times

The consultation closed earlier this month.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

Returned for Toulon earlier this monthh.

Independent

Ballots were sent out earlier this month.

The Economist

Loeb launched his campaign earlier this month.

Independent

But earlier this month, ENRC fired Dechert.

The New York Times

Earlier this month, his wish was fulfilled.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "earlier this month" to provide context to an event or action that happened within the current month, ensuring clarity for your reader.

Common error

Be precise when using "earlier this month". If the exact date is important, specify it to avoid confusion, especially when the writing may be read at a later date.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "earlier this month" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by specifying the time frame in which an action occurred. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "earlier this month" is a common and grammatically sound adverbial phrase used to indicate an event occurred at the beginning of the present month. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct. Predominantly found in News & Media, it serves to set a temporal context without being overly specific. When precision is needed, alternatives such as "in the first week of this month" can be considered. This review underscores its correct and frequent usage in diverse writing contexts. The many examples provided by Ludwig confirm that "earlier this month" is a versatile and reliable phrase for time referencing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

earlier in the month

Omits "this", implying the current month is understood.

at the beginning of this month

This alternative specifies the temporal position more precisely.

at the start of this month

Highlights the commencement of the monthly period.

in the first week of this month

This indicates a specific week within the month.

in early part of this month

Uses a more descriptive term for the time frame.

within the first few days of this month

This phrase emphasizes the initial days of the month.

the initial days of this month

This alternative emphasizes the initial timeframe using a different structure.

previously this month

This suggests a prior time in the current month, without specifying when.

since the beginning of this month

Highlights the duration from the start of the month until now.

the month began

This implies events happening since the start of the month.

FAQs

How can I use "earlier this month" in a sentence?

You can use "earlier this month" to refer to something that happened at the beginning of the current month. For example, "Earlier this month, the company announced record profits."

What's a more specific alternative to "earlier this month"?

If you need to be more specific, you could use phrases like "in the first week of this month" or "at the beginning of this month" instead of "earlier this month".

Is it okay to use "earlier this month" in formal writing?

Yes, "earlier this month" is suitable for both formal and informal writing, as it's a common and widely understood time reference.

What's the difference between "earlier this month" and "last month"?

"Earlier this month" refers to a time within the current month, while "last month" refers to the entire previous month.