early this year

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "early this year" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a time period that occurred at the beginning of the current calendar year. Example: "We launched the new product early this year, and it has received positive feedback since then."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

This was the summer of 1967.

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

"Although the investigation is in its early stages, we will take action to protect the public if we uncover evidence that could affect the safety of other rides at the park or elsewhere".

The Guardian

The third group had the condoms, the advice and the counselling, but the gel was a placebo, containing no active ingredient.In this section Davy Jones's lock-up Girls on top Dashed hopes An early Christmas present?

The Economist

ReprintsThe first "arm" of the trial, in which PRO 2000 formed 2% of the gel, was abandoned early because results elsewhere suggested this was an ineffective mix.

The Economist

This is wrong".

The New York Times

But is this right?

The New York Times

This is probably true.

The New York Times

There is a reason for this.

The New York Times - Sports

It wasn't always like this, of course.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "early this year" to provide a general timeframe without needing to specify an exact date. It's most effective when the current date is still within the first half of the year.

Common error

Avoid using "early this year" if you have a precise date. Instead, provide the specific date for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "early this year" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying when an event occurred relative to the present. Ludwig confirms its correct usage, as shown in various news articles.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "early this year" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase to indicate an event occurred in the initial months of the current year. According to Ludwig, its usage is confirmed, primarily in news and media contexts. While versatile, it's best to use specific dates when precision is required. Alternatives like "at the beginning of this year" provide similar meaning. Keep in mind that Ludwig marks the usage as correct, but rare.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the beginning of this year

Emphasizes the starting point of the year.

at the start of this year

Similar to "at the beginning", but with a slightly different nuance.

in the first part of this year

Highlights the initial segment of the year.

in the early months of this year

Highlights a period of several months.

toward the beginning of this year

Indicates a period approaching the start of the year.

in the first quarter of this year

More specific, referring to the first three months.

the first few months of this year

Specifies a range of months at the beginning of the year.

earlier in the year

Broader, simply indicating a time before the present.

in January/February/March

Refers to exact months.

at the dawn of this year

Figurative, implies the very start of the year.

FAQs

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

Use "early this year" to refer to events or occurrences in the initial months of the current year. For example, "The project launched "early this year" and has seen significant growth since then."

What phrases are similar to "early this year"?

Alternatives include "at the beginning of this year", "in the first part of this year", or "in the first quarter of this year". Each offers a slightly different nuance in specifying the timeframe.

When is it appropriate to use "early this year" versus a more specific date?

Use "early this year" when the exact date is not crucial or known. If the precise date is important, provide the specific date instead for clarity.

Is "early this year" formal or informal?

"Early this year" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its usage depends more on the surrounding language and the overall tone of the writing.