that much sooner

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that much sooner" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something will happen earlier than expected or planned, often in a comparative context. Example: "If we start the project now, we can finish it that much sooner than if we wait until next month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

Playing dead will just make you into a meal that much sooner.

The New York Times

Less equity means the value of your debt will exceed the value of your asset that much sooner.

The New York Times

But if mutual suspicions could be overcome, prosperity and democracy would come to Russia that much sooner.

The Economist

That means you could download your video 10 times faster than you do now, freeing the network that much sooner for someone else to use.

MIT Technology Review

This may be making the banking system safer that much sooner, but it is coming at a cost: instead of asking their shareholders for more equity to boost the ratio, many banks are shedding assets and cutting back on lending instead.

The Economist

If we stopped subsidizing the cost of using slow copper, we'd get to an all-IP infrastructure that much sooner.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

These cost savings will make the case for profitable human space exploration that much easier and sooner than you might think!

Huffington Post

Two years ago, the Boston Consulting Group predicted that, by 2016, three billion people would be online; this year, the international Broadband Commission for Digital Development found that we're likely to reach that milestone much sooner than expected, with an estimated 2.9 billion people online as of the end of this year, up from 2.3 billion, in 2013.

The New Yorker

In this week's Campaign Stops column, I look at three failures that prevented the Romney campaign from silencing that chorus much sooner: They didn't know how to talk about Romney's wealth.

The New York Times

But the study also showed that it's possible to pay back that debt much sooner, all with a manageable monthly payment (thus, leaving more room in the budget for travel), based on the value of the college you attend.

Forbes

Most people know that feeling much sooner.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "that much sooner" to emphasize a notable reduction in time, highlighting the benefits of acting promptly or efficiently.

Common error

While generally acceptable, avoid using "that much sooner" excessively in highly formal or academic writing; opt for more precise and sophisticated alternatives like "significantly earlier" or "substantially in advance".

Linguistic Context

Adverbial phrases like "that much sooner" modify verbs or clauses, indicating when or to what extent something occurs. Ludwig AI confirms its proper use in expressing temporal advantage. It serves to amplify the earliness of an event or action.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "that much sooner" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adverbial phrase that emphasizes the degree to which something occurs earlier than expected. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, especially in news and media, but may be less appropriate in highly formal settings. While effective in highlighting efficiency and time-saving benefits, consider alternatives like "significantly earlier" for more formal writing. Remember that using "that much sooner" can persuasively underscore the advantage of acting promptly.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

much earlier

A more general way to express an earlier occurrence, without the added emphasis.

considerably earlier

Focuses on the degree of earliness rather than a direct comparison.

significantly earlier

Highlights the importance or impact of the earlier timing.

substantially sooner

Emphasizes the magnitude of the time difference.

before the expected time

Directly states that something happens before the anticipated time.

noticeably earlier

Highlights that the earlier occurrence is easily observed or recognized.

appreciably earlier

Similar to noticeably earlier, but emphasizes the ease of perception.

ahead of schedule

Specifically refers to completing something before the planned deadline.

well in advance

Indicates doing something with plenty of time to spare.

prematurely

Implies something is happening too early, possibly with negative consequences.

FAQs

How can I use "that much sooner" in a sentence?

Use "that much sooner" to indicate that an event will occur earlier than anticipated or compared to an alternative scenario. For example, "If we implement these changes now, we'll see results "that much sooner" than if we delay."

What can I say instead of "that much sooner"?

You can use alternatives like "significantly earlier", "considerably earlier", or "substantially sooner" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "much sooner than that"?

Yes, "much sooner than that" is grammatically correct and emphasizes the difference in timing compared to a specific reference point. For example, "The project is expected to be completed in a year, but we hope to finish it "much sooner than that"".

What's the difference between "sooner" and "that much sooner"?

"Sooner" simply means earlier, while "that much sooner" emphasizes the degree to which something is happening earlier. It implies a noticeable or significant difference in timing. For example, instead of saying "The meeting will start sooner", you could say "The meeting will start "that much sooner" if everyone arrives on time", to highlight how early it is starting.