sooner than another

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sooner than another" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare the timing of two events or actions, indicating that one occurs before the other. Example: "I would prefer to finish this project sooner than another task on my list."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

One might speculate that this effect may be related to attractiveness in the critical period of courtship and the early years of marriage, but why this would be so in the Canary Islands but not in Catalonia may be due to regionally specific cultural differences, or changing international trends in the appreciation of body phenotypes that have reached one region sooner than another.

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The Bristol Rifle Works were no sooner complete than another gunmaker allegedly bribed Floyd to break his $100,000 contract with Burnside.

Wikipedia

And perhaps the president may be able to change a couple of senior posts sooner than that, especially if another military man is chosen to fill General Wiranto's shoes as minister for political and security affairs.Mr Wahid will also have some delicate decisions to make about how to handle the army's past misdeeds.

The Economist

Aside from the likelihood of Ronaldo returning to his best sooner rather than later, another major cause for optimism within the travelling party is the return of Ramos and Luka Modric following injury.

BBC

Mr Stern is agitating to be free of his contract with Viacom sooner than 2006, which would give another boost to the share price.

The Economist

But the impact would be pretty powerful and can come a lot sooner than if we drag through another year of Congressional fights".

The New York Times

Meanwhile, Cook's opposite number believes England will be savouring that moment sooner than that, having stared at another green-tinged pitch during Australia's practice session.

The Guardian - Sport

But the basic ingredients of the decade-old crisis are still there, and some prognosticators are expecting another collapse sooner than later.

Vice

Doctors should also be prepared to follow up a new birth control prescription with another appointment sooner than they normally would ― especially for younger women and first-time users ― to see how the medication is affecting them, and if any changes are needed.

Huffington Post

If young monkeys in smaller groups develop the ability to distinguish between photographs of members of their own and another group sooner than young monkeys living in a large group, then the hypothesis that memory load is crucial would be supported.

Animal Cognition

His replacement will be another former telecoms executive, Dan Akerson.GM's IPO is coming sooner than expected and perhaps sooner than the company would have wished.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sooner than another" when comparing the timing of two distinct events or actions, particularly when emphasizing a preference for the earlier occurrence. For example: "I'd like to address this issue sooner than another one on the agenda."

Common error

Avoid using "sooner than another" when the comparison is implicit or unclear. Always ensure there's a specific second event being compared, otherwise use "sooner" alone. For instance, instead of saying "I want to finish sooner than another," specify "I want to finish this project sooner than I start the next one."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sooner than another" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase of comparison, modifying a verb by specifying the relative timing of one action in relation to another. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in expressing preferences for timing.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "sooner than another" is a grammatically correct comparative phrase used to indicate that one event or action is preferred to occur earlier than another. As confirmed by Ludwig, its usability is recognized in written English. While not extremely common, it appears in various contexts, including news, science, and general discussions. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the two events being compared. Alternatives like "earlier than another" or "before another" can provide similar meanings with slight differences in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

earlier than another

Replaces "sooner" with "earlier", emphasizing the time difference more directly.

before another

A more straightforward way to indicate precedence in time.

prior to another

More formal and emphasizes chronological order.

ahead of another

Suggests being in a leading position in terms of time.

rather than another

Indicates preference or choice between two options.

preferably to another

Emphasizes a desired choice over another.

more quickly than another

Focuses on speed of occurrence relative to something else.

in advance of another

Formal and emphasizes preparation or anticipation.

on the near side of another

Offers a more figurative or spatial sense of timing.

previously to another

Highlights that the action occurred at an earlier time.

FAQs

How can I use "sooner than another" in a sentence?

Use "sooner than another" to indicate that one event should happen before a second event. For example, "I hope to receive the test results "sooner than another" round of revisions is necessary."

What phrases are similar to "sooner than another"?

Similar phrases include "earlier than another", "before another", or "prior to another", all of which emphasize the relative timing of two events.

Is it grammatically correct to use "sooner than another"?

Yes, "sooner than another" is grammatically correct when used to compare the timing of two distinct events or actions. The phrase is usable in written English.

When should I use "sooner" versus "sooner than another"?

Use "sooner" when you want something to happen quickly in general. Use "sooner than another" when comparing two specific events, indicating that one should happen before the other. For example, "I'd like to get this done "sooner" rather than later," versus "I'd like to get this done "sooner than another" project."