it is relatively early

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it is relatively early" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the time of day or the timing of an event, indicating that it is not late or that there is still time left for something to happen. Example: "Although the meeting is scheduled for 10 AM, it is relatively early, so we have time to prepare."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

It is relatively early in lockout terms.

The New York Times - Sports

Although analysis at TS23 may miss some of the earliest effects, it is relatively early in the response and the earliest time at which it is certain that the system is disturbed.

BMC Genomics

However, it is relatively early in the project; we need to look at the data, get some publications out and have a lot more discussion before we can determine the full potential of this approach.

DMM Disease Models and Mechanisms

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"It was relatively early in the evening, and I thought it would have been awkward, and inconsiderate to the group I was with".

The New York Times - Style

I know that it's relatively early in the season, but that's something that Clippers fans would have to be proud about.

The Guardian - Sport

"As we have since been able to piece together, it was relatively early on that he considered giving his works to us".

The Guardian

Even though it's relatively early and he's on a non-stop round of coffee mornings, leafleting and canvassing, Zac's eyes burn with passion.

Independent

But he added that it was relatively early in the off-season, saying, "It's hard to accurately predict where things will end up".

The New York Times

I'm not sure when he said it, exactly, but I'm guessing that it was relatively early in his career - before he jetted off to Hollywood to make The Boys From Brazil, The Jazz Singer (the Neil Diamond version) and Harold Robbins' The Betsy.

The Guardian - Film

Among big newspapers it was relatively early in embracing the Web and was ahead of its peers in adopting such innovations as blogs and reader-generated comments.

Forbes

Still, it's relatively early days for SnapKeys which only launched the Si Revolution keyboard in July (although it started beta-testing another version of the keyboard, called Si Evolution, in December 2012).

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it is relatively early" to convey that something is in its initial stages or that there is still ample time for something to occur. This phrase works well in both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "relatively" excessively in your writing. While "it is relatively early" is a valid phrase, overuse can make your writing sound hesitant or uncertain. Consider if a simpler phrase like "it's early" would suffice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is relatively early" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the timing or stage of an event or situation. This is supported by the examples provided by Ludwig, which demonstrate its use in various contexts to qualify the earliness of something.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it is relatively early" is a grammatically sound and useful way to indicate that something is in its initial stages or that there is still time available. As shown by Ludwig, this phrase is primarily used in News & Media and Science, maintaining a neutral register. While "it is relatively early" is effective, remember to avoid overuse and consider simpler alternatives like "it's early" when appropriate. With an expert rating of 4.5, this phrase is recommended for clear and contextual communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's still early

Replaces "relatively early" with "still early", simplifying the expression.

it is fairly early

Substitutes "relatively" with "fairly", indicating a slightly lower degree of earliness.

it is quite early

Replaces "relatively" with "quite", suggesting a similar degree of earliness.

it is still in its early stages

Expresses the same idea using the concept of 'stages'.

we are in the early phase

Shifts the perspective to the actors involved and emphasizes the phase.

the process is just beginning

Focuses on the start of a process rather than a specific time.

it is not too late

Emphasizes that the timing is still appropriate or has not passed.

the hour is young

A more poetic and less common way to express that it is early.

it's the beginning

Simple expression that something is just starting.

the day is young

Refers specifically to the early part of the day.

FAQs

What does "it is relatively early" mean?

The phrase "it is relatively early" means that something is at an initial stage, or that there is still time remaining, but not necessarily the earliest possible point. It suggests a comparison to a later stage or time.

Is it better to say "it is early" or "it is relatively early"?

The choice between "it is early" and "it is relatively early" depends on the context. "It is early" is a more direct statement. "It is relatively early" implies a comparison; for example, "it is relatively early in the season" suggests the season is not very advanced.

What are some synonyms for "it is relatively early"?

Some synonyms for "it is relatively early" include "it is fairly early", "it is quite early", or simply "it is early" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

How can I use "it is relatively early" in a sentence?

You can use "it is relatively early" in a sentence to indicate that a process, event, or period is in its initial stages. For example, "Although some progress has been made, "it is relatively early in the project", so there's still much work to be done."