substantially sooner

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantially sooner" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something will happen significantly earlier than expected or compared to another event. Example: "The project is expected to be completed substantially sooner than the original deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"We continue to actively work with them," said Kate D. Levin, the commissioner of cultural affairs, adding, "I understand they may decide to close on the property and break ground substantially sooner".

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The incidence of new vertebral fractures observed at adjacent levels was substantially higher but no sooner than at distant levels in PVP/PKP group.

Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery

"In some reasonable period of time, certainly in five years, the New York office should be twice as big as the L.A. office," he added, "and maybe sooner than that, because of the substantially bigger client base".

The New York Times

Sooner or later, however, Livingston will be under pressure to lift the dividend substantially if BT will soon be growing revenues again rather than just cutting costs.

The Guardian - Business

"The thrust of our discussion was that we need to have substantially all of the U.S. team in the N.A.N. pool and eligible for testing sooner rather than later," said Scott Blackmun, the U.S.O.C.'s acting chief executive officer.

The New York Times - Sports

In our hands, the brood size of wago-1 ; met-2 double mutants is substantially reduced at 20° within ∼12 generations; however, the strain does not become sterile sooner than the 18−24 generations described for met-2 (Andersen and Horvitz 2007; Bessler et al. 2010), hence the met-2 Mrt phenotype does not appear to be enhanced.

G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

We hope this might change sooner rather than later, as the need for private debt financing will remain pressing and grow substantially as the sector evolves and grows.

Huffington Post

Michael Mussa, formerly the Fund's chief economist, says that the IMF should have made the point sooner that, while a primary surplus of 3% may have been appropriate while growth was low, a substantially larger surplus is needed in future Brazil's target, after all, is 4.25%, while Turkey's is double Argentina's.

The Economist

Maybe sooner.

The New York Times

Or sooner.

The New York Times

Not substantially.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "substantially sooner" to emphasize a significant difference in timing, particularly when contrasting expectations with reality.

Common error

Avoid using "substantially sooner" when the difference in timing is minimal or negligible. It's best suited for instances where the advancement is genuinely noteworthy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantially sooner" functions as an adverbial modifier, intensifying the adverb 'sooner'. It indicates that something will occur not just earlier, but significantly earlier. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in English writing.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "substantially sooner" is a grammatically sound adverbial phrase used to emphasize that something will occur significantly earlier than expected. While Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is correct, its usage is relatively rare. It appears most frequently in news and scientific contexts. When using the phrase, ensure that the difference in timing is genuinely noteworthy to avoid overstatement. Alternatives such as "considerably earlier" or "significantly earlier" can provide similar emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considerably earlier

Emphasizes a notable difference in time, focusing on the 'earlier' aspect.

significantly earlier

Highlights the importance of the timing being earlier.

markedly sooner

Focuses on a clear and easily noticeable difference in timing.

appreciably sooner

Suggests the difference in time is easily perceived or measured.

noticeably sooner

Indicates that the earlier timing is easily observed.

much earlier

A more straightforward way to express a considerable advancement in time.

well in advance

Highlights a significant amount of time before a specific point.

ahead of schedule

Specifically indicates progress compared to an established timeline.

before expected

Emphasizes that something happens before the anticipated time.

prematurely

Suggests happening or being done too early.

FAQs

How can I use "substantially sooner" in a sentence?

You can use "substantially sooner" to indicate something happens significantly earlier than expected. For instance, "The project is expected to be completed "substantially sooner" than anticipated".

What's a good alternative to "substantially sooner"?

Alternatives include "considerably earlier", "significantly earlier", or "much earlier", depending on the desired nuance.

Is it appropriate to use "substantially sooner" in formal writing?

Yes, "substantially sooner" is appropriate for formal writing. However, be mindful of the context. If the difference is minimal, consider a less emphatic alternative like "slightly sooner".

What is the difference between "sooner" and "substantially sooner"?

"Sooner" simply indicates that something will happen earlier. "Substantially sooner" emphasizes that the difference in timing is significant or considerable.