early last month

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "early last month" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to an event or occurrence that happened in the first few weeks of the current month. For example, "I visited my grandparents early last month and they seemed to be in good health."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

Early last month, I.T.F.

The New Yorker

It entered bankruptcy early last month.

The New York Times - Travel

He returned to London early last month.

The Guardian

The arrests were made early last month.

The New York Times

He arrived in Marfa early last month.

The New York Times

It all reached a crucial point early last month.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

A tenuous cease-fire has prevailed since early last month.

The New York Times

"When's my bump coming?" he asked Mr. Laudner early last month.

The New York Times

Early last month the strikes were restarted, killing four alleged militants in North Waziristan.

Independent

And early last month the Greeks started building a fence to stop people walking across.

The Economist

Early last month, I met Robinson in Luton, in a hotel dining room.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "early last month", ensure your reader understands which month you are referencing. If there's any ambiguity, specify the month explicitly (e.g., "early last month, in June").

Common error

Avoid using "early last month" when the exact date is crucial. This phrase is general; for precise dates, specify the day or week to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "early last month" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb by specifying when an action occurred. Ludwig examples demonstrate it setting a temporal context for various events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Science & Research

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "early last month" is a common and grammatically sound way to refer to the beginning of the month prior to the current one. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is suitable for various contexts, including news, academic, and general conversation. The analysis reveals its primary function as an adverbial phrase of time, offering a general timeframe for events. When using this phrase, ensure clarity about the month being referenced. While versatile, specify exact dates when precision is necessary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Start of last month

Focuses on the beginning of the month, similar to "early last month" but emphasizes the initial period.

Beginning of last month

Synonymous with 'start of last month', highlighting the initial phase.

First week of last month

More specific, limiting the timeframe to the first seven days.

In early part of last month

More verbose but semantically equivalent, adding emphasis.

The beginning of the month before

Rephrases the time frame more formally, suitable for specific contexts.

The first days of last month

Highlights multiple days at the start of the month.

At the start of last month

Focuses on the commencement of the month in question.

Just after the turn of the month

Highlights the transition between months.

In the initial days of last month

Similar to 'first days', but with added emphasis on the initial period.

The month before in its early stages

Describes the month as being in its initial phase.

FAQs

How do I use "early last month" in a sentence?

Use "early last month" to indicate an event that occurred at the beginning of the previous month relative to the current date. For instance, "Early last month, the company announced its quarterly earnings."

What can I say instead of "early last month"?

You can use alternatives such as "start of last month", "beginning of last month", or "first week of last month depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "earlier last month" instead of "early last month"?

While "earlier last month" might be understood, "early last month" is the more common and grammatically standard way to refer to the beginning of the previous month.

How specific is the timeframe when using the phrase "early last month"?

The phrase "early last month" is not highly specific; it generally refers to the first week or two of the preceding month. For precise dates, specify the exact day or week.