very early on

USAGE SUMMARY

'very early on' is both grammatically and stylistically correct and is perfectly usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that something happened, or was known, very soon after the start of an event or process. For example, "I knew very early on that I wanted to pursue a career in coding."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This one came from the third paragraph, very early on.

Huffington Post

It's very early on".

The New York Times

We're very early on.

MIT Technology Review

I learned that very early on.

The New York Times

That could have happened very early on.

The Economist

"Very early on he protested against this".

The New York Times

"We are still very early on".

The New York Times

"Target came to me very early on.

The New York Times

This is very early on".

The Guardian

But politics took over very early on.

Stanford University

I was pretty nerdy very early on.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "very early on" to clearly indicate that an observation, decision, or event occurred soon after the beginning of a process. This helps establish a timeline and emphasizes the promptness of the action.

Common error

Be mindful not to use "very early on" redundantly with other phrases that convey similar timing, such as "at the very beginning" or "immediately from the start". Choose one for clarity and conciseness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "very early on" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs to specify when an action or event took place. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and perfectly usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Academia

22%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "very early on" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase that emphasizes the timing of an event shortly after its beginning. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various writing contexts, particularly in news and media, as well as academic settings. To ensure clarity, avoid redundant phrasing and consider stronger alternatives like "at the very beginning" for enhanced impact. Recognizing and preventing potential errors, such as redundancy with similar phrases, will refine and strengthen your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the very beginning

This alternative emphasizes the initial stage of something.

in the early stages

Focuses on the preliminary phases of a process or development.

in the initial stages

This phrase focuses on the period when something is just starting.

at an early stage

This option offers a slightly less emphatic version.

right from the start

This emphasizes immediacy and directness from the commencement.

at the outset

This is a more formal way of saying "at the beginning".

from the get-go

An informal phrase meaning from the very beginning.

in its infancy

This suggests that something is in a very early stage of development.

at the dawn of

This phrase implies the start of a new era or development.

in the nascent phase

This indicates a very early stage of development or existence.

FAQs

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

Use "very early on" to emphasize that something was noticed, implemented, or understood shortly after the beginning of an event or process. For example, "I realized "very early on" that this project would be challenging."

What are some alternatives to "very early on"?

Alternatives include "at the very beginning", "right from the start", or "in the initial stages". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired emphasis.

Is it redundant to say "very early on in the process"?

While not strictly incorrect, adding "in the process" to "very early on" can be somewhat redundant. "Very early on" already implies the beginning of a process, so using it alone is often more concise.

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

"Very early on" places greater emphasis on the immediacy and swiftness with which something occurred compared to simply saying "early on". The inclusion of "very" intensifies the timing aspect.