early encounter with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "early encounter with" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an initial meeting or experience that occurs at an early stage in a person's life or in a particular context. Example: "My early encounter with literature sparked a lifelong passion for reading and writing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

Or an early encounter with Judith Kerr's hungry house-guest?

The Guardian

Professor Dawkins said his mother had written down an early encounter with Santa.

Independent

But students of economics will no doubt remember an early encounter with "Giffen goods", which violate the usual pattern.

The Guardian - Business

An early encounter with Frank Lloyd Wright decisively influenced both Mr. Jaffe's aesthetic direction and his sense of appropriate form, and possibly validated his iconoclastic streak as well.

The New York Times

Since her early encounter with the French aristocracy, Greenfield has been asking herself the same questions in hundreds of different ways.

The New Yorker

I suppose that most teenagers over the centuries have had an early encounter with alcohol that they remember, albeit hazily, for the rest of their lives.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

The second segment of this three-part survey of the art films of Michel Auder, the relatively little-known French-American director, takes us back to the early 1970s, and to Auder's early encounters with Andy Warhol and his entourage.

Independent

In my early encounters with Philip, food featured.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Ginsburg, in her elegant, sotto-voce manner, told of her early encounters with the art.

The New Yorker

In Dot's early encounters with Francis and Joey, she seems particularly adolescent.

The New York Times

Condescension characterised early encounters with the wild colonials, these rough-hewn figures from the Antipodes.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "early encounter with" to highlight how an initial experience shaped subsequent development or understanding. This phrase is effective in biographical narratives, historical accounts, and analyses of personal growth.

Common error

While versatile, "early encounter with" can sound slightly informal in highly academic or technical writing. Consider alternatives like "initial exposure to" or "formative experience with" for a more elevated tone in such settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "early encounter with" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun, adding detail about an initial experience or meeting. It describes when something occurred and its relation to a subject. According to Ludwig AI, it's usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "early encounter with" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe an initial experience or meeting, often with an emphasis on its significance or timing. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and suggests alternatives like "initial exposure to" for more formal contexts. It's most commonly found in news and media, but also appears in scientific and encyclopedic sources. When using this phrase, consider its slightly informal tone in highly academic or technical writing and aim to highlight the formative nature of the encounter. Top authoritative sources for this phrase include The New York Times and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

first meeting with

Replaces "encounter" with "meeting", focusing on the act of meeting someone for the first time.

initial experience with

Substitutes "encounter" with "experience", highlighting the aspect of undergoing or facing something.

early exposure to

Changes "encounter" to "exposure", emphasizing the act of being subjected to something at an early stage.

formative experience with

Replaces "early encounter" with "formative experience", stressing the impact of the experience on development.

introduction to

Focuses on the act of being introduced to something, rather than a more general encounter.

first contact with

Emphasizes the initial interaction or communication with something or someone.

early introduction to

Highlights the act of being introduced in an early stage to something or someone.

baptism in

Figurative expression for first strong experience.

initiation into

Emphasizes a formal or ceremonial introduction to a group, skill or body of knowledge.

original experience with

Highlight the novelty aspect of the experience.

FAQs

How can I use "early encounter with" in a sentence?

You can use "early encounter with" to describe a first experience or meeting that had a significant impact. For example, "His early encounter with coding sparked a lifelong passion for technology."

What's a more formal alternative to "early encounter with"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "initial exposure to" or "formative experience with".

Is "early encounter with" the same as "first encounter with"?

While similar, "early encounter with" implies the encounter happened at a young age or at the beginning of a process, while "first encounter with" simply denotes that it was the first time experiencing something. The former emphasizes the timing in relation to a developmental stage.

Can "early encounter with" be used in a negative context?

Yes, "early encounter with" can be used to describe a negative experience. For instance, "Her early encounter with prejudice shaped her activism."