Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
held the earliest
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "held the earliest" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to something that was maintained or possessed at the earliest point in time. Example: "The museum held the earliest artifacts from the ancient civilization, showcasing their history."
✓ Grammatically correct
News & Media
Wiki
Science
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
60 human-written examples
After "undecided," Tom Dart, the sheriff of Cook County, held the early lead, with the support of 12 percent of the city's voters.
News & Media
The Suns held the early ascendency but should have enjoyed a larger advantage, with Sam Day missing three set shots at goal in the first term.
News & Media
Wendell held the early lead and the Mets piled on Masato Yoshii, a former teammate who was jettisoned to Colorado in January to dump salary.
News & Media
She held the early women's movement in contempt because she believed mere equality was a step down for any woman.
News & Media
Race one was reduced to 17 laps and it was Aprilia rider Laverty who held the early advantage until the rain started to come down midway through.
News & Media
Derek Ernst held the early lead on Thursday at five under.
News & Media
Canada held the early advantage of play, outshooting the Soviets 12 4 in the first period as their opponent was unable to generate offence.
Wiki
In 2014, The White House held The Early Childhood Summit announcing funds to be donated by private and philanthropic organizations, along with federal grants.
News & Media
In 2005, researchers discovered a remarkably complete ancient hominin skull at Dmanisi, Georgia, a site that holds the earliest human ancestors found outside of Africa.
Science & Research
When I first started looking into this (1996) there was a tendency for the party holding the earliest convention to get a larger bump.
News & Media
First, it is the out-party holding the earliest convention and people usually know less about the out-party nominee, since the incumbent party almost always runs an incumbent president or vice-president (John McCain being the most recent exception).
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When using the phrase "held the earliest", ensure that the context clearly indicates what was being possessed or maintained from the beginning, providing specific details to enhance clarity.
Common error
Avoid using "hold the earliest" as it doesn't reflect a past action. Use "held the earliest" to correctly indicate that something was possessed or maintained at the earliest point in time.
Source & Trust
82%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "held the earliest" functions as a verb phrase indicating past possession or maintenance from the beginning. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It often precedes a noun describing what was possessed or maintained.
Frequent in
News & Media
33%
Wiki
33%
Science
34%
Less common in
Academia
0%
Formal & Business
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "held the earliest" is grammatically correct and signifies past possession or maintenance from the beginning. Although it's not exceedingly common, Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability. The phrase finds its usage across various contexts such as news, wikis, and science. When incorporating this phrase, ensure that the context clearly identifies what was possessed or maintained from the beginning to avoid ambiguity.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
possessed the earliest
Replaces "held" with "possessed", emphasizing ownership from the start.
maintained the earliest
Substitutes "held" with "maintained", focusing on the continuous holding from an early point.
had the earliest
Uses "had" instead of "held", indicating a simple possession at the earliest time.
retained the earliest
Replaces "held" with "retained", suggesting a holding that involves keeping something from an early stage.
secured the earliest
Uses "secured" instead of "held", highlighting the act of obtaining possession at the earliest opportunity.
established the earliest
Changes "held" to "established", indicating setting up or creating something at the earliest time.
boasted the earliest
Replaces "held" with "boasted", suggesting a proud possession from the earliest time.
pioneered the earliest
Uses "pioneered" to convey the idea of initiating or being the first to hold something.
originated the earliest
Replaces "held" with "originated", focusing on the origin or creation at the earliest time.
commanded the earliest
Uses "commanded" instead of "held", to express being in a leading position from the beginning.
FAQs
How can I use "held the earliest" in a sentence?
You can use "held the earliest" to describe something that was possessed or maintained from the beginning. For example, "The museum "held the earliest artifacts" from the ancient civilization".
What are some alternatives to "held the earliest"?
Alternatives include "possessed the earliest", "maintained the earliest", or "had the earliest" depending on the context.
Is it correct to say "hold the earliest"?
No, "hold the earliest" is grammatically incorrect when referring to a past action. The correct form is "held the earliest".
What does "held the earliest" mean?
"Held the earliest" indicates that someone or something possessed or maintained something from the beginning or at a very early stage. It's similar to saying something "possessed the earliest" examples of something.
Editing plus AI, all in one place.
Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
82%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested