earlier this week

USAGE SUMMARY

"earlier this week" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that happened in the current week before the moment of speaking or writing. For example, "I finished the report earlier this week and now I am ready to present it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Trials of this idea are currently under way, one of which should report next year.

The Economist

This was the summer of 1967.

The New York Times

This is wrong".

The New York Times

But is this right?

The New York Times

This is probably true.

The New York Times

There is a reason for this.

The New York Times - Sports

It wasn't always like this, of course.

The New York Times - Travel

This list is far from exhaustive.

The Guardian

As an environmentalist, and someone who believes that everyone in this world has a right to a healthy and nutritious diet of their choosing, I could not have chosen a more counter-productive path.

The New York Times

What explains this?

The New York Times

This was a mistake.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "earlier this week" to provide a clear temporal reference, ensuring your audience understands you are referring to a time within the current week, before the present moment.

Common error

Avoid using "earlier this week" when you actually mean something that happened last week. "Earlier this week" always refers to the current week, not the previous one.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "earlier this week" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying when an event occurred. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable phrase in English, indicating a point in time within the current week before the present moment.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "earlier this week" is a grammatically sound and understandable phrase used to reference a time within the current week before the present moment. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Although relatively rare in its occurrence, the phrase is commonly found in News & Media contexts. When using "earlier this week", ensure it accurately reflects the intended timeframe and isn't mistakenly used in place of "last week". Consider using alternatives like "at the start of this week" for nuanced meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

earlier in the present week

Reiterates that the time frame is within the current week, before now.

at the start of this week

Specifies the beginning portion of the week.

at the beginning of this week

Similar to "at the start of this week", but with a slightly broader connotation.

before today in this week

Directly refers to any time before the current day of the week.

in the first part of this week

Highlights the initial segment of the week.

in the early part of this week

Emphasizes the 'early' aspect of the week.

the initial days of this week

Highlights that multiple days at the beginning of the week are referenced.

at the week's outset

Formal way to indicate the commencement of the week.

the week before today

Focuses on the days before the current day in this week.

the week began

Focuses on the commencement of the week.

FAQs

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

You can use "earlier this week" to refer to an event or action that occurred during the current week, before the present day. For example, "I submitted the report "earlier this week"."

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

"Earlier this week" refers to a time period within the current week, while "last week" refers to the entire previous week. They are not interchangeable.

What can I say instead of "earlier this week"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "at the start of this week" or "in the early part of this week".

Is "earlier this week" formal or informal?

"Earlier this week" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The formality depends more on the surrounding language and context.