quite early

USAGE SUMMARY

'quite early' can be used in written English and would be appropriate in a variety of contexts.
For example: "We are planning to leave quite early tomorrow morning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Some industries came back quite early.

The New York Times - Tech

This was, I emphasize, quite early.

The New Yorker

We got in quite early.

The Guardian - Business

I rejected religion quite early.

The Guardian

Quite early Madonna, now I look back.

The Guardian

So I was writing dialogue quite early.

The New York Times

That was the silent understanding we came to, quite early.

The New Yorker

Gold was never coined, but copper was introduced quite early.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Perhaps quite early, before Larry and the skit.

The New Yorker

"We predicted the end of the telegram quite early.

The New York Times

I was let off my P.C. leash quite early on.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "quite early" to emphasize that something happened or was done sooner than expected. It adds a subtle emphasis compared to simply saying 'early'.

Common error

While "quite early" is acceptable, avoid overusing it in formal academic papers or business reports. Consider stronger, more precise alternatives like "significantly earlier" or "considerably sooner" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "quite early" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or adjective. It indicates the timing of an action or state, emphasizing that it occurred sooner than expected or usual. Ludwig examples illustrate this usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

18%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Science

9%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "quite early" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adverbial phrase that serves to emphasize the timing of an event as happening sooner than expected. According to Ludwig, the phrase is suitable for various contexts, but be mindful of overuse in formal writing where more precise alternatives might be preferable. While the phrase sees frequent use across a range of sources, including News & Media, Academia, and Encyclopedias, certain authoritative sources like The Guardian and The New York Times utilize it more frequently. Consider related phrases such as ""very early"" or ""relatively early"" for nuanced variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

very early

Emphasizes the earliness to a greater degree than "quite early".

relatively early

Highlights the earliness in relation to a specific context or benchmark.

comparatively early

Similar to 'relatively early', but with a stronger emphasis on the comparison.

fairly early

Indicates a slightly less intense degree of earliness compared to "quite early".

pretty early

An informal synonym, less formal than "quite early".

rather early

Similar to 'fairly early', implying a moderate degree of earliness.

somewhat early

Indicates a slight degree of earliness.

at an early stage

Focuses on the phase or period being at its initial point.

before long

Emphasizes the proximity to the initial point.

in good time

Focuses on being early enough to be well prepared.

FAQs

How can I use "quite early" in a sentence?

You can use "quite early" to indicate that something happened sooner than expected. For example, "The project was completed "quite early", allowing us to move on to the next phase."

What are some alternatives to saying "quite early"?

Alternatives to "quite early" include "very early", "relatively early", or "fairly early" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "quite early" in formal writing?

While "quite early" is generally acceptable, consider using more formal alternatives like "significantly earlier" or "considerably sooner" for a more professional tone. However, Ludwig AI confirms that this term is grammatically correct.

What's the difference between "quite early" and "early"?

"Quite early" emphasizes that something happened or was done sooner than just "early". The word "quite" adds a degree of emphasis.