far too early

USAGE SUMMARY

"far too early" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to emphasize that an event or action is happening much earlier than expected, desired, or necessary. Example sentence: "I had to get up far too early this morning!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

They judged us far too early.

Independent

It is far too early to say.

The Economist

It was far too early.

The New York Times - Sports

Alexander: You're far too early.

The Guardian

It's far too early to know that!

The Guardian

It's far too early for that.

The Guardian - Sport

It is far too early to judge.

The Guardian - Business

It's far too early to say.

The Guardian

Mighty Italy was headed home far too early.

The New York Times - Sports

It's far too early to write him off.

Independent

I was far too early (I guess I was eager).

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "far too early" to express strong disapproval or surprise about the timing of an event. It adds emphasis compared to simply saying "too early".

Common error

While generally acceptable, "far too early" can sound informal in very formal writing. Opt for alternatives like "prematurely" or "before the appropriate time" in academic papers or official reports.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "far too early" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or adjectives to express the timing of an action or event. It adds emphasis to the prematurity, as suggested by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "far too early" is a common and grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to express that something is happening prematurely. As Ludwig AI points out, it's suitable for many contexts, particularly in news and media, though it might be replaced with more formal alternatives in academic writing. Remember to use it to add emphasis to the idea of premature timing and to consider the formality of your writing when choosing between this phrase and alternatives such as "much too soon" or "prematurely".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

much too soon

Emphasizes the timing is inappropriate because it is premature.

prematurely

A single-word adverb expressing something happening before it should.

before the right time

Highlights the inappropriateness of the timing.

ahead of schedule

Focuses on the timing in relation to a planned timeline.

untimely

Implies the event is not only early but also possibly unfortunate.

too previous

A less common, somewhat informal way of saying something is premature.

overhasty

Highlights the rushed nature of the action, leading to its earliness.

a bit previous

A more colloquial British phrase implying prematurity.

before its time

Suggests something is happening or appearing before it is generally accepted or ready.

previous to the proper moment

A formal and somewhat verbose way of expressing prematurity.

FAQs

What does "far too early" mean?

The phrase "far too early" means something is happening much sooner than expected, desired, or appropriate. It emphasizes the prematurity of an event or action.

How can I use "far too early" in a sentence?

You can use "far too early" to express that something occurred prematurely. For example, "It's "far too early" to draw any conclusions about the new policy".

What are some alternatives to saying "far too early"?

Alternatives include phrases like "much too soon", "prematurely", or "before the right time". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to use "far too early" in formal writing?

While "far too early" is generally acceptable, consider the formality of your writing. In highly formal contexts, alternatives such as "prematurely" or "before the scheduled time" may be more suitable.