Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
was received earlier
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "was received earlier" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was obtained or acknowledged at a previous time. Example: "The report was received earlier than expected, allowing us to start the analysis sooner."
✓ Grammatically correct
Science
News & Media
Wiki
Alternative expressions(1)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
1 human-written examples
Timeliness was categorised as follows: (a) too early (vaccine was received earlier than the recommended age); (b) timely (vaccine was received within the recommended period above); (c) delayed if received after the window period.
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
58 human-written examples
The CSG was shown to increase child height, but only if it was received early in a child's life and covered the majority of the first three years of life.
A thorough evaluation conducted at the end of the 2002 orientation suggested that the message was received early in the academic year by the majority of students in the new curriculum.
Science
Some of these guns may have been received earlier, the sources are unclear.
Wiki
Electronic questionnaires were received earlier than paper questionnaires (median, web: 7 days; median, paper: 10 days; Mann Whitney test: p < 0.001).
Victims sometimes have horrific internal and external bleeding and most die of shock or multiple organ failure, although chances of survival increase dramatically if adequate treatment is received early on.
News & Media
Rumour has it that Harries is forming an indie of his own and the person most likely to be receiving early pitches is Ms Tranter.
News & Media
Julian had, she relates, been receiving early-intervention services for three months when he suddenly had a "frightening regression" and "the light in his eyes began to go out".
News & Media
Therefore, we performed the present study to screen for EPI and try to identify the potential risk factors for EPI in critically ill adult patients without primary pancreatic diseases who were receiving early enteral nutrition (EN).
Science
Prior to the present intervention, few of the young children with SCD treated at our SCD clinic were receiving early intervention or parent education services such Parents as Teachers™, despite eligibility.
Science
In a naturalistic follow-up study of preschool children with ASDs who were receiving early intervention, those who had had an ASD diagnosis established very early (and therefore had received an early start of intervention) did not exhibit a better outcome than children with a later diagnosis (and hence a later start of intervention during the preschool age period).
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When using "was received earlier", ensure the context clearly indicates what the item or information is that was received and the point of reference for 'earlier'. This makes the sentence more precise.
Common error
A common mistake is not clearly specifying what "earlier" is in relation to. Always provide a clear timeframe or event to which the receipt is being compared. For example, instead of saying "The package was received earlier", say "The package was received earlier than the estimated delivery date."
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "was received earlier" functions as a passive construction indicating that something (information, object, etc.) was obtained or acknowledged before a particular time. As Ludwig illustrates, it specifies that the receipt occurred prior to an expected or specified point.
Frequent in
Science
50%
News & Media
37%
Wiki
13%
Less common in
Formal & Business
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Social Media
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "was received earlier" is a grammatically correct passive construction used to convey that something was obtained or acknowledged before a specified time. Ludwig AI analysis indicates it's most frequently found in scientific and news contexts, demonstrating a neutral register. While the phrase is accurate, ensure clarity by specifying the reference point for 'earlier'. Consider using synonyms like "arrived sooner" or "was obtained beforehand" for varied sentence structure.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
arrived sooner
Replaces "received" with "arrived" and "earlier" with "sooner", focusing on the timing of arrival.
was obtained beforehand
Substitutes "received" with "obtained" and "earlier" with "beforehand", emphasizing acquisition prior to a certain point.
was procured sooner
Similar to 'obtained beforehand', emphasizing the procurement process.
was delivered in advance
Focuses on the delivery aspect, using "in advance" to convey earliness.
was acquired ahead of schedule
Emphasizes the acquisition being before the expected timeframe.
was at hand sooner
Focuses on availability at an earlier time.
was accessed prematurely
Highlights access occurring before the appropriate time, changing the nuance slightly.
preceded its arrival
Highlights precedence in time of something else arrival.
came in ahead of time
Uses a more informal phrasing, focusing on arrival before the deadline.
showed up sooner
More colloquial term to refer to the timing of something.
FAQs
How can I use "was received earlier" in a sentence?
You can use "was received earlier" to indicate that something was obtained or acknowledged at a previous time. For example: "The application "was received earlier" than the deadline".
What are some alternatives to "was received earlier"?
Alternatives include "arrived sooner", "was obtained beforehand", or "was delivered in advance", depending on the specific context.
Is it more formal to say "was received earlier" or "arrived sooner"?
"Was received earlier" is generally more formal than "arrived sooner". The choice depends on the tone and audience of your writing.
What's the difference between "was received earlier" and "was received before"?
"Was received earlier" implies a comparison to a specific timeframe or event, while "was received before" indicates simply that it happened at some prior time. "The report "was received earlier" than expected" versus "The report "was received before" I left the office".
Editing plus AI, all in one place.
Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested