early on

USAGE SUMMARY

"early on" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to refer to a period of time in the beginning or early stages of something. For example: "Early on, we decided to focus on developing a strategy for growth."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's very early on".

The New York Times

Brie dominated early on.

Independent

Early on, something fantastic happens.

The New Yorker

Reporting attracted Simon early on.

The New Yorker

The campaign dulled early on.

The Economist

Early on, he played everywhere.

The New York Times - Sports

I learnt that early on.

Independent

Early on, he deserved it.

The New York Times - Sports

Take the initiative early on.

The New York Times

It takes time early on".

Independent

That was gutted early on.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "early on" to emphasize the initial phase of a project, relationship, or process. It helps to highlight the importance of decisions or events that occurred at the beginning.

Common error

Avoid using "early on" with other redundant time references like "in the early beginning" or "at the very start". "Early on" already implies the beginning, so adding extra qualifiers can make your writing sound awkward and repetitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "early on" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate when something occurred. It specifies that the action or state took place at the beginning or in the initial stages of a process, event, or period. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a common and correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "early on" is a frequently used and grammatically sound adverbial phrase that indicates something occurring at the beginning of a process or period. As Ludwig AI points out, its function is to emphasize the timing of an action or decision, and its register is generally neutral. It's most commonly found in news and media sources, and writers should be careful to avoid redundancy by not pairing it with other phrases that already indicate the beginning. By understanding its proper usage and context, you can effectively incorporate "early on" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the start

Focuses on the initial phase, emphasizing the beginning of an event or process.

in the beginning

Highlights the very first stage or moment of something.

initially

Stresses the preliminary stage or the first actions taken.

at first

Indicates the initial reaction or state of affairs.

to begin with

Implies the commencement of a series of events or points.

in its infancy

Highlights the early development phase, often implying potential for growth.

in the early stages

Emphasizes that something is still developing and not yet mature.

at an early stage

Similar to "in the early stages", but with a slight emphasis on a particular point in time.

from the outset

Suggests that something was true or planned from the very beginning.

in its early days

Refers to a time when something was new and potentially less developed.

FAQs

How can I use "early on" in a sentence?

You can use "early on" to indicate that something happened or was decided at the beginning of a process or period. For example, "We identified the problem "early on" in the project".

What are some alternatives to using "early on"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "at the start", "initially", or "in the beginning".

Is it correct to say "early on in the beginning"?

No, saying "early on in the beginning" is redundant. "Early on" already implies the beginning, so adding "in the beginning" is unnecessary. Just use either ""early on"" or "in the beginning".

What's the difference between "early on" and "earlier"?

"Early on" refers to the initial stages of something, while "earlier" simply means "before now" or "before a specific time". "Earlier" doesn't necessarily imply the beginning of a process.