early this month

USAGE SUMMARY

"early this month" is correct and usable in written English.
Example: I plan to start the project early this month.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

Smaller samplings followed early this month.

The New York Times

Closing arguments are expected early this month.

The New York Times

The charge was dropped early this month.

The New York Times

Riverkeeper began its ad campaign early this month.

The New York Times

By early this month, the numbers were 46 to 39.

The New York Times

They published the results of their study early this month.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

Early this month, the 40-member U.A.E.

The New York Times

(It was destroyed early this month by NATO airstrikes).

The New York Times - Books

Another berth seemed inevitable until early this month.

The New York Times - Sports

The volcano seemed to return to somnolence early this month.

The New York Times

Early this month at least nine health workers were killed.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "early this month", ensure the context is clear and the reader understands which month you are referring to, especially if the communication spans multiple months.

Common error

Avoid using "early this month" without specifying the year if the communication is likely to be read in the future. This can lead to confusion about the exact timeframe being discussed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "early this month" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause by specifying the timing of an action or event. Ludwig AI indicates that this is a standard and acceptable usage pattern.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "early this month" is a common and grammatically sound way to refer to the initial period of the current month. Ludwig AI confirms its validity for general usage. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts. When using the phrase, make sure the context is clear and specify the year when needed to avoid ambiguity. Consider alternatives like "at the start of the month" or "in the first week of the month" for slight variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the start of this month

Replaces "early" with "at the start", emphasizing the very beginning of the month.

the beginning of this month

Similar to the previous phrase, but uses "beginning" instead of "start".

in the first week of this month

Specifies the timeframe as the first week, adding more precision.

the initial part of this month

Uses more formal language to indicate the early portion of the month.

the first few days of this month

Focuses on the specific days at the start of the month.

at the dawning of this month

Employs a more figurative and evocative expression.

as this month began

Changes the structure to a clause, focusing on the commencement of the month.

shortly after the month began

Introduces a slight delay compared to the very start of the month.

around the first of the month

Indicates an approximate timeframe near the beginning of the month.

earlier in the month

Less specific, indicating a time before the present but still within the current month.

FAQs

How can I use "early this month" in a sentence?

You can use "early this month" to specify a time frame within the first part of the current month. For example, "The project is scheduled to launch early this month."

What are some alternatives to "early this month"?

Alternatives include "at the start of this month", "the beginning of this month", or "in the first week of this month".

Is it necessary to specify the year when using "early this month"?

While not always required, specifying the year clarifies the timeframe, especially in long-term communications or when the context might be unclear. Without the year, the reference is only valid for the current month and year.

What is the difference between "early this month" and "later this month"?

"Early this month" refers to the beginning of the current month, while "later this month" refers to the end or the second half of the current month.