it awfully early

USAGE SUMMARY

'it awfully early' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is commonly used when expressing surprise or dismay at how soon an event is beginning or how quickly the time is passing. For example, you could say, "It's awfully early, but I need to get up and start my morning routine."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But isn't it awfully early for the Red Bulls to be looking so awfully old?

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Mercata is also mum on its sales metrics, and indeed it is awfully early in the game.

Forbes

"Remember, I said, it's awfully early to be thinking this, but I always think it.

Huffington Post

("You're right, it is awfully early," Mr. Cho says politely).

The New York Times - Arts

Even though nostalgia hits every generation, it seems awfully early for 28-year-olds to be looking back.

The New York Times

It's really awfully early.

The New York Times - Tech

"It's still awfully early for me to have a full sense of where he's at," the offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said.

The New York Times - Sports

It did indeed seem awfully early to be out doing hoe-work, and as long as we were standing by the field we heard no more shots.

The New Yorker

My oh my, it's getting dark awfully early.

Huffington Post

The moment it's evident that "Exodus Fall" is going to be a chore comes awfully early: the first scene after supertitles that set this would-be coming-of-age road trip movie in 1974.

The New York Times

That is awfully early in a justice's career to draw any general conclusions.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it awfully early" to express surprise or mild disapproval about something happening sooner than expected. For example, "It's awfully early to start thinking about Christmas gifts in July."

Common error

While generally acceptable, "it awfully early" might sound slightly informal in very formal or professional settings. Consider alternatives like "it is prematurely timed" if a more formal tone is needed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it awfully early" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause, expressing a subjective assessment of timing. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is used to indicate that something is happening sooner than expected.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it awfully early" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to convey surprise or mild disapproval regarding the premature timing of an event. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is widely accepted in various writing contexts. While prevalent in news and media, it may require more formal alternatives in academic or scientific settings. The phrase functions as an adverbial modifier, adding a subjective assessment of timing to the statement. Ludwig's examples show varied contexts where this phrase is applicable, emphasizing its versatility in expressing opinions on timing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's quite early indeed

Adds emphasis to the earliness using "quite" and "indeed".

it's surprisingly early

Emphasizes the unexpected nature of the earliness.

it's unexpectedly early

Highlights that the earliness was not anticipated.

it's unusually early

Implies that the timing deviates from the norm.

it's prematurely timed

Focuses on the timing being before the expected or ideal time.

it's remarkably early

Emphasizes how noteworthy the earliness is.

it's starting too soon

Focuses on the idea of something beginning before it should.

it's excessively early

Highlights the excessive degree of earliness.

it's a bit previous

A more colloquial way of expressing that something is happening too early.

it's advanced in time

Uses 'advanced' to indicate the early state.

FAQs

What does "it awfully early" mean?

The phrase "it awfully early" expresses surprise or mild dismay that something is happening sooner than expected. It suggests that the timing is premature or inappropriate.

How can I use "it awfully early" in a sentence?

You can use "it awfully early" to comment on actions or events that are occurring prematurely. For example, "It's awfully early to be thinking about retirement when you're only 30 years old."

What are some alternatives to saying "it awfully early"?

Alternatives include "it's prematurely timed", "it's surprisingly early", or "it's unusually early", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "it awfully early" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it awfully early" is grammatically correct and commonly used in spoken and written English to express that something is happening sooner than expected.