early next year

USAGE SUMMARY

'early next year' is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used as an estimate for when something may happen. For example, "I'm hoping to start my new job early next year".

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Based on a true story, its stars McConaughey as an AIDS sufferer who smuggles drugs for other patients to treat the HIV virus in the early days of the disease in the 1980s.

The Guardian - Film

Next stop, Brooklyn!

The New York Times

Trials of this idea are currently under way, one of which should report next year.

The Economist

Last year, during David Cameron's trip to Beijing, the same paper announced that Britain was "just an old European country apt [that is, suitable] for travel and study".

The Guardian - Opinion

"They gave me their word a year ago and now I want them to honour that.

The Guardian - Sport

According to the Campaign for Better Transport (CBT), the cost of a Milton Keynes season ticket has risen 23.5%, or £930, since January 2010 and is one of a number of fares that have increased around four times more than average wages over this five-year period.

The Guardian

"It's only what happened a couple of weeks ago or next week that matters.

The Guardian - Sport

As a result, the country lost a further 21 positions in the policy evaluation compared to last year, thus replacing Canada as the worst-performing industrial country".

The Guardian

But this year is different.

The New York Times

"But tomorrow?

The New York Times

It said that if automatic spending cuts go into force and all the Bush-era tax cuts expire, the nation would slip into recession next year and unemployment would rise to 9.1 percent, from October's rate of 7.9 percent.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "early next year", be as specific as possible if you have a more precise timeframe in mind. For instance, if you know it will be January, stating "in January" adds clarity.

Common error

Avoid promising something will happen "early next year" without a realistic plan. Unforeseen delays often push timelines back, so build in contingency to avoid disappointment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "early next year" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb or clause to indicate when an action will occur. Due to a lack of examples, Ludwig's assessment cannot be fully leveraged here, however this structure is still easily demonstrated.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "early next year" is a grammatically sound temporal phrase used to indicate a timeframe within the first few months of the upcoming year. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. While no specific examples were available for analysis, it serves as a neutral and common way to project events without committing to a specific date. Consider being more specific if more clarity is required, and manage expectations around scheduling when employing this phrase. Alternative options include "start of next year" or "first quarter of next year".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

start of next year

Replaces "early" with a synonym, focusing on the beginning of the year.

first quarter of next year

Specifies the timeframe more precisely within the first three months.

beginning of the new year

Uses a more descriptive and slightly more formal tone.

in the new year

Offers a more general timeframe, encompassing the initial period of the upcoming year.

January or February

Provides specific months to indicate the "early" timeframe.

the first few months of next year

Emphasizes a period longer than just the very beginning of the year.

at the dawn of next year

Uses a more figurative and evocative expression.

by the start of next year

Implies a deadline or target coinciding with the year's beginning.

around January

Indicates an approximate time in January.

just after the new year

Highlights the period immediately following the start of the year.

FAQs

How can I use "early next year" in a sentence?

You can use "early next year" to indicate a timeframe within the first few months of the upcoming year. For example, "We plan to launch the new product early next year".

What is a good alternative to "early next year"?

Alternatives to "early next year" include "start of next year", "first quarter of next year", or "beginning of the new year", depending on the level of formality and precision required.

Is it okay to say "earlier next year" instead of "early next year"?

While "earlier next year" isn't grammatically incorrect, "early next year" is the more common and natural-sounding expression. It is generally preferred in most contexts.

How specific is the timeframe when I say "early next year"?

"Early next year" generally refers to January, February, or March. If you need to be more precise, consider specifying the month or using "first quarter of next year".