early today

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "early today" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to something that happened earlier in the day. Example: "I received an important email early today regarding the project deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

This year Ohioans are voting early once again, and most of them are voting to reelect the president, according to the latest polls.

The Guardian

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

Early reports suggest that in his testimony to a congressional committee today, General David Petraeus will claim that the Iranians assisted the Mahdi Army militia to fight the forces of Iraqi prime minister Nuri al-Maliki in the recent week-long battle in Basra.

The Guardian - Opinion

And next year?

The New York Times

"We believe together we have an opportunity to demonstrate the true nature of British Islam today.

The Guardian

There is a need to lay out more clearly than ever before what being a British Muslim means today: proud of your faith and proud of your country.

The Guardian

It remains true today".

The Guardian

You can't say that about some of the grey men at the top of British business today.

The Guardian

Today is a day for fond memories and respect.

The Guardian

Macdonald and Kennedy's friendship dated back to their days running the Glasgow university students' union in the early 1980s.

The Guardian

"These are old monopolies that have become privatised, and I think if you don't get tough regulation, you do get the consumer being ripped off," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "early today" to clearly indicate an event or action that occurred in the initial part of the current day. This is particularly useful in news reports or daily summaries to provide a sense of immediacy.

Common error

Avoid using "early today" to refer to events that will happen later in the day. Instead, use phrases like "later today" or "this afternoon/evening" to maintain clarity and avoid temporal ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "early today" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to specify when an action occurred. It provides temporal context, indicating that the action took place in the initial part of the current day, as supported by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

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Science

0%

Less common in

Academia

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Wiki

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Reference

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "early today" is a grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to specify that an action occurred in the initial part of the current day. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, its frequency is currently unconfirmed. Alternatives include "this morning" and "earlier today". It is best suited for neutral contexts like news reporting but should be used cautiously in formal academic writing where precision is key. When using "early today", avoid confusing it with future events by using phrases like "later today" instead. The absence of current examples requires careful application to ensure accuracy and relevance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

earlier in the day

Refers to a point in time that occurred before the current moment within the same day; emphasizes the temporal difference more directly.

first thing this morning

Highlights that something happened immediately at the beginning of the day.

this morning

Specifically refers to the morning portion of the current day; more restrictive if it's afternoon or evening.

earlier this morning

Combines both "earlier" and "this morning", providing emphasis on the time that already passed in the morning of this day.

at the start of the day

Emphasizes the initial period of the day, often implying actions taken soon after the day began.

in the first part of the day

A more descriptive way of indicating the initial hours of the present day.

in the early hours of today

A more formal and descriptive way of expressing "early today."

in the wee hours

Refers to the very early hours of the morning, often implying before sunrise.

at daybreak

Specifically refers to the time when daylight first appears; poetic and less precise.

shortly after dawn

Implies that something occurred soon after sunrise, linking the event to the natural light cycle.

FAQs

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

"Early today" is typically used to indicate that something happened in the first part of the current day. For example: "The company announced its quarterly earnings "early today"."

What are some alternatives to "early today"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases such as "this morning", "earlier today", or "in the early hours" as alternatives to "early today".

Is there a difference between "early today" and "earlier today"?

"Early today" generally refers to the beginning portion of the day, whereas "earlier today" simply means 'at some point before now, within the current day'. The nuance lies in the specific timing; "early today" suggests the morning or initial hours.

Can I use "early today" to refer to something happening tomorrow?

No, "early today" refers exclusively to the current day. To refer to something happening early tomorrow, you should say "early tomorrow" instead.