earlier today

USAGE SUMMARY

"earlier today" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used in the context of something that happened at the beginning of the current day. For example, "Earlier today, I went for a walk in the park."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

A surprise drop in US GDP helped push the FTSE 100 down 16.08 points to 6323.11 after earlier signs that a new five year peak was on the cards.

The Guardian - Business

And next year?

The New York Times

"We believe together we have an opportunity to demonstrate the true nature of British Islam today.

The Guardian

There is a need to lay out more clearly than ever before what being a British Muslim means today: proud of your faith and proud of your country.

The Guardian

It remains true today".

The Guardian

You can't say that about some of the grey men at the top of British business today.

The Guardian

Today is a day for fond memories and respect.

The Guardian

"These are old monopolies that have become privatised, and I think if you don't get tough regulation, you do get the consumer being ripped off," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

The Guardian - Money

Nevertheless, that cannot in any way spoil my pleasure in being here today".

The Guardian

The same is true today.

The New York Times

Today, the cardiologist said, she would get a stress test, an echocardiogram, a mobile Holter monitor, and maybe even a cardiac catheterization.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "earlier today" to specify that an event occurred within the current day, but before the current time. This helps to provide a clear temporal reference.

Common error

Avoid using past perfect tense unnecessarily with "earlier today". Since "today" already establishes a timeframe, simple past tense is usually sufficient.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "earlier today" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. It specifies when an action occurred, indicating a time frame within the current day, prior to the moment of speaking or writing. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "earlier today" is a correct and frequently used adverbial phrase to specify that an event occurred within the current day, before the present time. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts, especially common in news and media. When using this phrase, ensure clear tense agreement and avoid redundancy. Related alternatives include "earlier this day" or "previously today", though these alternatives don't radically change the meaning of the query.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

earlier this day

Replaces "today" with "this day", slightly emphasizing the current day.

previously today

Substitutes "earlier" with "previously", indicating a prior time within the same day.

earlier in the day

Adds "in the day" for emphasis and clarity.

before now today

Uses "before now" to specify that the action occurred at a point in time preceding the current moment of today.

already today

Implies that something has been completed before the current time of today.

so far today

Focuses on the period from the start of the day until the present moment.

up until now today

Emphasizes the continuous period from the beginning of the day to the present.

in the early hours today

Specifically refers to events that happened in the first few hours of the day.

in the first part of the day

More descriptive, avoiding the direct use of "earlier" or "today".

this morning

Refers to the morning portion of the current day.

FAQs

How can I use "earlier today" in a sentence?

"Earlier today" is used to indicate that something happened during the current day, before the time of speaking. For example: "Earlier today, I attended a meeting."

What's a more formal alternative to "earlier today"?

In formal contexts, you might use "earlier this day" or "previously today" as "earlier this day" instead of "earlier today".

Is it redundant to say "earlier today this morning"?

Yes, saying "earlier today this morning" is redundant because "earlier today" already implies that the event happened during the current day's morning or afternoon. It's better to use either "earlier today" or "this morning".

What is the difference between "yesterday" and "earlier today"?

"Yesterday" refers to the entire previous day, while "earlier today" refers to a time before the current moment within the same day. If the event occurred on a previous day, use "yesterday"; otherwise, use "earlier today".