relatively early on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "relatively early on" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a point in time that is earlier than expected or in comparison to other events. Example: "Relatively early on in the project, we identified several key challenges that needed to be addressed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

Making use of the nascent world wide web relatively early on, radical Islamist groups were able to utilise this new global network for a number of different jihad-y means, from recruitment and financing to propaganda and communication.

Vice

This suggests that privacy attitudes may be formulated relatively early on and may be robust to one's health condition, which may develop later in life.

BMC Medical Ethics

Though he is still relatively early on in his film career, it holds some gems.

The Guardian - Film

Partnering with the local incumbent relatively early on may be the smartest thing Uber could have done.

The Guardian - Tech

"In 1528, the three greatest men of the age were in Spain," he announces relatively early on.

The New York Times - Books

"I would like to think that from relatively early on that we as a party generally got it.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

They will have to remove De Villiers relatively early to prevail on Friday.

The Guardian - Sport

Certainly, if you look at one of James's relatively early essays on the art of fiction, he's more lenient than Wells suggests.

The Guardian - Books

Indeed, we had suspected as such at a relatively early stage (on day 2).

JA Clinical Reports

The same could also be said of Vodafone 360 – remember that developer competition – but it's still relatively early days on all non-Apple fronts.

TechCrunch

Historically, NSF directors either leave relatively early or remain on aboard for the full ride.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "relatively early on" to indicate that something occurred sooner than might have been expected, but not necessarily immediately at the start. It implies a comparison to a later point or other possibilities.

Common error

Avoid using "relatively early on" repeatedly within a short passage. Vary your language by using alternatives like "at an early stage" or "soon after the beginning" to prevent redundancy and improve readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "relatively early on" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the timing of an action or event. It specifies that something occurred in the initial stages, sooner than might be expected or compared to other potential points in time. Ludwig AI provides numerous examples of this usage across various domains.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

38%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "relatively early on" is a common and grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to indicate that something happened sooner than expected. Ludwig AI confirms its frequent use across diverse sources, including News & Media, Science, and Wiki. To improve your writing, consider using "relatively early on" to emphasize the timing of events and avoid overuse by substituting with alternatives like "fairly early on" or "at an early stage". The phrase is generally suitable for both formal and informal contexts, making it a versatile addition to your vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite early on

Emphasizes earliness more strongly than "relatively early on".

fairly early on

A more common and slightly less formal alternative.

reasonably early on

Indicates a degree of earliness that is within acceptable limits.

pretty early on

A more informal and subjective assessment of earliness.

comparatively early on

Highlights the earliness by comparing it to something else.

at an early stage

Focuses on the stage or phase rather than the time itself.

in the early stages

Similar to "at an early stage", but emphasizes the plural nature of 'stages'.

soon after the beginning

More descriptive and less concise than "relatively early on".

at the outset

Highlights the very beginning of something.

in the initial phase

Focuses on the phase or portion of the timeline rather than the specific time.

FAQs

How can I use "relatively early on" in a sentence?

You can use "relatively early on" to describe when something happens sooner than expected, for instance, "Relatively early on in the project, we encountered several challenges".

What phrases are similar to "relatively early on"?

Similar phrases include "fairly early on", "quite early on", or "at an early stage" depending on the context.

Is there a more formal alternative to "relatively early on"?

While "relatively early on" is suitable for many contexts, a more formal alternative would be "at an early stage" or "in the initial phase".

What's the difference between "early on" and "relatively early on"?

"Early on" simply indicates something happened at the beginning. "Relatively early on" implies a comparison, suggesting something happened sooner than might have been expected or compared to other events.