early last time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "early last time" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to refer to a previous occasion that occurred earlier than another, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "We discussed this issue early last time we met."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

She got lit up early last time but expect a bold show here.

The Guardian - Sport

This time around, Flipside is setting its sights on a more realistic funding goal of $40,000, after failing to come close to its $135,000 goal and cancelling the Kickstarter project early last time.

TechCrunch

When I stopped early last time I felt like I'd let him down (Mother, age 24, second baby) My first baby I was feeding for one month.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

When I stopped early last time I felt like I'd let him down (Mother, age 24, second baby) Many women expressed dissatisfaction with routine postnatal care, reporting that advice was often inadequate, contradictory and undermined their confidence in their feeding abilities [ 6, 39, 40].

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Cardinal Bergoglio reportedly got about 40 votes in the early balloting last time, and has chosen the name Pope Francis.

The New York Times

"Consolidation," Kovac's official target for the season, was really just a fancy word for staving off relegation worries a bit earlier than last time, wasn't it?

The Guardian - Sport

Rizzuto had been in the booth in Baltimore 6,980 games earlier, the last time the Yankees were no-hit, on Sept. 2, 1958.

The New York Times - Sports

Since it took place in May, Green thinks it would have brought to mind the procession of Lincoln's funeral through Chicago during the same month twenty-one yearlierrlier — the last time the city had stood united.

The New Yorker

Since it took place in May, Green thinks it would have brought to mind the procession of Lincoln's funeral through Chicago during the same month twenty-one years earlier—the last time the city had stood united.

The New Yorker

Before the start of the Stanley Cup finals between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings, much was made of the resemblance to the finals between the Edmonton Oilers and the Islanders 25 seasons earlier, the last time the defending champions met the team they had defeated the previous year for the Cup.

The New York Times - Sports

My father looked almost the same as he had two years earlier, the last time I visited.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "early last time" in formal writing. It is generally better to use more precise and common alternatives such as "previously" or "the last time" for improved clarity.

Common error

A common mistake is using "early" to modify "last time", which creates an awkward and grammatically unsound phrase. Remember that "early" usually modifies events within a specific timeframe, not entire past instances.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "early last time" functions as an adverbial modifier, attempting to specify when something occurred relative to a previous event. However, Ludwig AI indicates this is not standard English and can be awkward. The intended meaning is often better conveyed using alternative phrasing.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "early last time" is considered grammatically incorrect and lacks clarity in standard English. Ludwig AI flags it as non-standard, recommending alternatives such as "previously" or "the last time" for improved communication. While examples exist in news and scientific contexts, its usage is infrequent, suggesting it's best avoided in formal writing. Understanding temporal adverbs and their proper application is key to clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

last time

Omits the 'early' modifying word and focuses solely on the most recent previous instance.

the prior time

Similar to 'last time' but using a different adjective.

previously

Replaces the entire phrase with a single word indicating something happened before.

the last instance

Focuses on a particular event or occurrence that happened before.

on the previous occasion

Replaces the phrase with a more formal expression.

on a former occasion

A more formal way of saying something happened in the past.

during our last encounter

Specifically indicates an interaction between two or more parties.

at an earlier juncture

A more elaborate and formal way of referring to a previous time.

in the past

A general phrase referring to something that occurred at some unspecified time before the present.

before

A simple, direct way to indicate something happened at an earlier point.

FAQs

What does "early last time" mean?

The phrase "early last time" is not standard English and lacks a clear meaning. It may be intended to refer to an event that happened at the beginning of a previous occasion, but it's better to use alternatives like "previously" or "the last time" for clarity.

How can I use "the last time" correctly?

Use "the last time" followed by a clause that describes what happened then. For example, "The last time I saw her, she was laughing."

What's a more formal way to say "early last time"?

Since "early last time" is not formal, you can use alternatives like "on the previous occasion" or "in the past" to make it sound more formal.

Is "early last time" grammatically correct?

No, "early last time" is not grammatically correct in standard English. It is an awkward phrasing and should be avoided. Consider using "previously" or rewording the sentence for better clarity.