early one evening

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "early one evening" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a specific time during the early part of the evening, often to set the scene in a narrative or description. Example: "Early one evening, as the sun began to set, I decided to take a walk in the park."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

"I know, I met you before," said a woman in Burbank when Schiff knocked on her door to introduce himself early one evening this summer.

The New York Times - Magazine

However, early one evening, I needed to go to a store on the main market avenue called Conde.

Huffington Post

The ESPN Zone at Baltimore's Inner Harbor presented one extreme early one evening.

The New York Times

I saw him just once after this, early one evening in the Opera Tavern, off Drury Lane.

The Guardian - Books

Early one evening, before a performance, I walked around the stage with Devlin, and she took me up the grand staircase of the palace.

The New Yorker

By John Graham and Russell Maloney The New Yorker, December 23 , 1944P. 13 Two young soldiers were walking up Broadway early one evening, deep in argument.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Months later we appeared together early one morning on Radio 4.

The Guardian

I meet Calix early one morning on an unseasonably chilly day in late October.

The Guardian - Arts

Early one morning, he'd even caught a rare glimpse of a leopard.

The New York Times - Travel

Early one morning, Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICEE) agents pounded on his door.

Huffington Post

Early one morning, Sand and an investigator knocked on the woman's door.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "early one evening" to set a specific, somewhat undefined time in a narrative, creating a sense of anticipation or mystery.

Common error

Avoid using "early one evening" in highly formal or technical writing. Opt for more precise language like "6:00 PM" or "the beginning of the evening" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "early one evening" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying when an event takes place. It's used to set the scene or provide context within a narrative. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "early one evening" is a grammatically correct and relatively common way to set a scene or describe when an event occurred. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's appropriate for general narrative purposes. While versatile, it's best suited for storytelling and descriptive writing, especially in news and media contexts. When writing formal papers use more precise time expressions such as "at the start of the evening" or similar, the writing will result more direct and clear.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

early one night

Changes "evening" to the more general "night", broadening the timeframe slightly.

in the early evening

Rephrases the original, using a prepositional phrase for emphasis.

one evening early on

Rearranges the words to put emphasis on the "early" aspect.

at the start of the evening

Uses a more descriptive phrase to convey the beginning of the evening.

during the first part of the evening

A more elaborate way to say "early evening".

as evening began

Focuses on the transition to evening, rather than a specific time.

when evening was young

A more poetic and figurative way of saying "early evening".

in the gloaming hours

Uses a specific term ("gloaming") for the early evening twilight.

at dusk

Refers to the time of day when the sun is setting, synonymous with early evening.

shortly after sunset

Specifies the time relative to sunset.

FAQs

How can I use "early one evening" in a sentence?

You can use "early one evening" to describe when an event occurred, such as, "Early one evening, I decided to take a walk."

What is a good alternative to "early one evening"?

Alternatives include "in the early evening", "one evening early on", or "at the start of the evening", depending on the context.

Is "early one evening" formal or informal?

"Early one evening" is generally considered neutral, suitable for narrative writing but potentially too vague for formal reports. Consider more precise language in formal contexts.

How does "early one evening" differ from "late one evening"?

"Early one evening" refers to the beginning of the evening, around dusk or shortly after sunset, while "late one evening" refers to the end of the evening, closer to nighttime.