the very soonest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the very soonest" is not standard in written English and may sound awkward to some readers.
It can be used to emphasize urgency, typically in informal contexts when requesting something to be done as quickly as possible. Example: "Please send me the report at the very soonest so I can review it before the meeting."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The House map pretty well locks in a Republican majority until after the 2020 census, at the very soonest.

The New Yorker

Setbacks have resulted in major delays, however; on 10 May 2006, company officials confirmed that the first shipments of the vaccine won't be delivered before late 2007 at the very soonest.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Spit out the gum the soonest possible moment to the flavor-fading as possible.

WikiHow

And who will suffer the worst, the soonest from global warming?

Independent

And for at least the next two years, the soonest any significant capacity can be added, there is no easy solution.

The New York Times

Under the likely timetable, the soonest the new emails would be released is October.

The New York Times

The people who will suffer the most and the soonest, of course, are the poor.

Huffington Post

"Because there were a couple of changes like the Chinese change, the soonest we could launch is next Wednesday," Ms. VanDyke said, referring to Aug. 26.

The New York Times

They won't officially come together until at least the second half of next year at the soonest.

TechCrunch

And, naturally, each Rolls-Royce will be custom built for each customer, so order now if you want to see your Phantom by the end of 2003, at the soonest.

Forbes

Looking at the screening calendar, the soonest, in only an hour, is Restrepo.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more common alternatives like "as soon as possible" or "at the earliest opportunity" for better clarity and wider acceptance, especially in formal writing.

Common error

Avoid stacking adverbs for emphasis excessively. While "very" can add force, too many such words can make your writing sound unnatural or even comical. Choose the most effective word or phrase and let it stand on its own.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the very soonest" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating when an action or event is expected to occur. It emphasizes the minimal amount of time expected before something happens. Although used in Ludwig, its usage is less common than alternatives.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Wiki

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "the very soonest" functions as an adverbial modifier expressing urgency and minimal delay. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig AI suggests that it's less common and might sound awkward compared to alternatives such as "as soon as possible" or "at the earliest opportunity". It appears more frequently in news and media contexts, with occasional use in scientific writing. Therefore, while usable, writers should consider the context and audience when choosing between "the very soonest" and its more widely accepted alternatives to ensure clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the earliest opportunity

Emphasizes taking action when the first chance arises, slightly more formal.

as soon as possible

A very common and versatile alternative, lacks the emphasis of "very".

as early as possible

Similar to "as soon as possible" but emphasizes earliness.

at the first chance

Highlights seizing the initial opportunity, less formal.

without delay

Emphasizes the absence of postponement.

at the earliest

Shorter and less emphatic, suitable for informal contexts.

promptly

Implies immediate action and readiness.

with maximum haste

More formal and emphasizes speed and urgency.

expeditiously

Formal and emphasizes efficiency and quickness.

with all due speed

Formal and emphasizes efficiency and lack of delay.

FAQs

What does "the very soonest" mean?

It means as quickly as possible, or at the first available opportunity. It is used to emphasize the desire for something to happen quickly.

Is "the very soonest" grammatically correct?

While not incorrect, it's less common than alternatives like "as soon as possible" or "at the earliest opportunity". Some may find it slightly awkward.

When should I use "the very soonest"?

Use it when you want to emphasize the urgency of a request in informal situations. In formal contexts, consider using "at the earliest opportunity".

What are some alternatives to "the very soonest"?

You can use phrases like "as soon as possible", "at the earliest", or "without delay" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.