early

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "early" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to something happening before the expected or usual time. Example: "I prefer to arrive early to meetings to prepare and gather my thoughts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"Although the investigation is in its early stages, we will take action to protect the public if we uncover evidence that could affect the safety of other rides at the park or elsewhere".

The Guardian

The third group had the condoms, the advice and the counselling, but the gel was a placebo, containing no active ingredient.In this section Davy Jones's lock-up Girls on top Dashed hopes An early Christmas present?

The Economist

ReprintsThe first "arm" of the trial, in which PRO 2000 formed 2% of the gel, was abandoned early because results elsewhere suggested this was an ineffective mix.

The Economist

These are early days.

The New York Times

The academy dismissed claims that its announcement had been scooped by the Aint-It-Cool-News website which ran an early list of supposed nominees.

The Guardian - Film

Leigh and Minghella were nominated for best screenplay, with Leigh an early favourite for his story about the comically strained relationship between Gilbert and Sullivan.

The Guardian - Film

The term "nervous" is on every rider and manager's lips when asked to describe the demands of the early phase of the race, but what they mean is more complex than a few shivers of anticipation at the prospect of a tricky bit of road or two.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Macdonald and Kennedy's friendship dated back to their days running the Glasgow university students' union in the early 1980s.

The Guardian

I lived in Lithuania for four years in the early 1990s.

The Economist

Take the early 1980s.

The Economist

In the early 2000s, pharmaceutical companies were high on activists' hit lists, prompted by Big Pharma's ill-advised attempt to sue the South African government for patent infringement on HIV drugs; an attempt to deal with the country's epidemic by allowing cheaper, generic copies to be sold.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "early" to describe a stage or period, ensure the context clearly defines what is being referred to, such as "early development" or "early stages of the project".

Common error

Avoid using "early" with past perfect tense when a simple past tense suffices. For example, instead of "They had finished early", it's often clearer to say "They finished early".

Linguistic Context

The word "early" primarily functions as an adjective or adverb, modifying nouns or verbs to indicate a time before the expected or usual. Examples in Ludwig show its use in contexts like "early stages" or "left early". According to Ludwig AI, its usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "early" is a versatile term primarily used as an adjective or adverb to denote a time before the expected or usual. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical status is correct, and it appears frequently in various contexts, notably in News & Media. Key related phrases include "ahead of schedule" and "in advance". When using "early", ensure the context is clear, and avoid incorrect tense usage. Overall, "early" serves to specify timing and clarify precedence in both formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ahead of schedule

Indicates completion or occurrence before the planned time.

in advance

Implies preparation or action taken before a specific event or time.

beforehand

Highlights doing something prior to a particular event.

prematurely

Suggests something happening too soon, often with negative connotations.

at the start

Focuses on the initial phase or beginning of something.

at the beginning

Emphasizes the initial point in time or sequence.

in its infancy

Refers to the initial stages of development or existence.

first

Indicates the initial position in a sequence or order.

promptly

Highlights doing something without delay, very quickly.

betimes

Archaic term indicating 'in good time' or 'before it is too late'.

FAQs

How can I use "early" in a sentence?

You can use "early" as an adverb, adjective, or noun. Examples include: "We left early" (adverb), "an early lunch" (adjective), or "the early shift" (noun).

What can I say instead of "early"?

You can use alternatives like "ahead of schedule", "in advance", or "beforehand" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "early" or "earlier"?

"Early" is an adjective or adverb describing a time before the expected or usual, while "earlier" is the comparative form. For instance, "I arrived early", versus "I arrived earlier than expected".

What's the difference between "early" and "soon"?

"Early" indicates before a specific time or expectation, whereas "soon" refers to a time in the near future. "Early" implies a comparison to a schedule or norm, while "soon" simply denotes proximity in time.