not sooner than

USAGE SUMMARY

"not sooner than" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something should not take place until a certain time or event has occurred. For example: The new policy will not be implemented sooner than next year.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

The segmentation process is completed not sooner than when the external nodes place themselves on the borders of objects of interest.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

In experiments of Sichel et al. [83, 188], the spores of another representative of molds, F. oxysporum, were inactivated not sooner than after 10 h of the TiO2/UV process.

Nanoscale Research Letters

A subsequent subcutaneous boost immunization was performed without adjuvant in week 3 and serum samples were collected in week 5. Vaginal lavage samples were collected not sooner than 1 week after vaginal immunization by pipetting 2×50 µl of sterile PBS in and out of the vagina several times using sterile blunted micropipette tips.

Plosone

Moreover, treatment discontinuation could have prevented the full development of GA's beneficial effect, as it is known that relapse reduction occurs not sooner than after 6 months.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Based on these results and a pilot test to determine optimal cell density for seeding cells in 24-well plates,  2.5 × 10 cell/mL concentration was chosen for cells to reach confluence not sooner than 4 days.

Disease Markers

The indicated dose of rituximab for the treatment of RA is two 1000-mg IVtravenous (infusionsionseparateded by 2 weeks every 24 weeks or based on clinical evaluation, but not sooner than every 16 weeks.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

That doesn't mean that another American woman can't—sooner than one might think.

The New Yorker

So why not sooner rather than later?

The New York Times

And New York "is greater than Paris or Constantinople, and will evidently be hereafter (in the 20th century, if not sooner) greater than London".

The New York Times - Arts

Therefore, we have introduced a stepped approach that allows interventions not sooner or more intense than necessary and not later or less intense than required.

BMC Family Practice

If so, some of the pound's recent strength may prove permanent.Some economists are surprised that the trade deficit, especially with euro-zone countries, did not widen sooner than it did and has not widened by more.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "not sooner than", ensure the context clearly defines the minimum acceptable time or condition. This avoids ambiguity and ensures precise communication.

Common error

Avoid using "not sooner than" when you actually mean "exactly at" or "immediately after". The phrase specifies a lower limit, not an exact point.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not sooner than" functions as an adverbial phrase that modifies a verb or clause. It sets a minimum time limit or condition before an action or event can occur. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "not sooner than" is a grammatically correct and useful expression to denote a minimum timeframe or condition. Ludwig AI highlights that the phrase indicates something should not occur until a certain time or event has passed. While found in various contexts, it is most frequently used in scientific and news-related content. For more formal writing, alternatives like "no earlier than" or "not prior to" can be considered. Remember to use this expression to establish clear lower bounds, preventing any ambiguity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

no earlier than

Focuses on the earliness, implying a boundary before which something is not permitted.

not before

Emphasizes that something cannot occur prior to a specific time or event.

only after

Highlights the necessity of a prior event or time having passed.

not until

Stresses that something will definitely happen at or after a particular time, but not before.

at the earliest

Indicates the very first possible moment something could happen.

not prior to

Formally states that something cannot happen before a certain point.

no less than

Specifies a minimum duration or amount, implying nothing shorter or smaller is acceptable.

not under

Used to indicate a minimum age or duration.

not faster than

Highlights the permissible minimum speed

not quicker than

Stresses that the allowable rate may not be exceeded

FAQs

How can I rephrase "not sooner than" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "no earlier than" or "not prior to". These alternatives provide a similar meaning with a more elevated register.

What is the difference between "not sooner than" and "only after"?

"Not sooner than" establishes a minimum time or condition before something can happen. "Only after" emphasizes the requirement that a specific event must occur before something else can take place.

How to use "not sooner than" in a sentence?

Use "not sooner than" to indicate a lower limit for when something is permissible. For example, "The report will be available not sooner than next Monday" implies the report may be ready later, but definitely not before Monday.

Can "not sooner than" be used to describe events in the past?

Yes, "not sooner than" can describe past events, indicating the earliest point at which something occurred. For example, "The discovery was made not sooner than 1950" indicates that the discovery occurred in 1950 or later.