we are early

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we are early" is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, you could use this sentence in a letter or email: "We are early, so we thought we got to the meeting before anyone else arrived."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

"But we are early adopters.

The New Yorker

"We are early," I say.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I'll see how we are early in the week and we'll plan away from there.

Independent

Still 12 56 remaining in the fourth quarter … 8.40pm GMT Around the league We are early in the fourth quarter of most games now.

The Guardian - Sport

Its full impact will not be felt for another couple of years, he said, adding, "We are early on in this boom".

The New York Times

Photograph: John McDonnell/The Washington Post So here we are, early in round two, six weeks or so from the end of the Stanley Cup tournament, and already the mayhem of those first games of round one — filthy hits, flying elbows, scrambled brains, media recriminations — has receded.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

But "in our case, we are early-stage people, and we had had a remarkable run," said one early investor who sold millions of dollars of stock in 2011, when the Russian investment firm was buying.

The New York Times - Tech

We were early.

The New Yorker

"We're early people," Mr. Lengfellner said.

The New York Times

"We're not late — we're early".

The New York Times

We're early in this process".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we are early" to indicate being ahead of schedule, or in the initial stages of a process. It is effective when you want to highlight proactive planning or early involvement.

Common error

Avoid using "we are early" when you need to describe a past situation. Use "we were early" instead to indicate that you arrived or completed something ahead of time in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we are early" functions as a statement indicating the current state of being ahead of schedule or in the initial phase of something. Ludwig AI indicates that this is considered correct in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we are early" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to indicate being ahead of schedule or in the beginning stages of something. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is considered correct. It is versatile enough for both formal and informal communication, though primarily seen in News & Media. Related phrases include alternatives such as "we are ahead of time" and "we are at the beginning". When using this phrase, be mindful of tense and avoid confusing it with "we were early" for past situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we are ahead of time

Focuses on being before a scheduled time, emphasizing punctuality.

we are ahead of schedule

Specifically refers to completing tasks or projects before the deadline.

we are in advance

Highlights preparing or acting before something is due.

we are at the beginning

Emphasizes being in the initial phase of a process or activity.

we are in the initial stages

Similar to being at the beginning, but specifies multiple stages.

we are in the preliminary phase

Focuses on the preparatory actions before the main activity.

we are pioneers

Implies being among the first to explore or develop something.

we are early adopters

Highlights embracing new technologies or trends before the majority.

we are on the leading edge

Indicates being at the forefront of innovation or progress.

we are before the rush

Suggests arriving or acting before a period of high activity or demand.

FAQs

How can I use "we are early" in a sentence?

You can use "we are early" to indicate that you are ahead of schedule or in the initial stages of something. For example, "We are early, so we have time for a coffee before the meeting."

What's the difference between "we are early" and "we were early"?

"We are early" indicates a present state of being ahead of schedule, while "we were early" describes a past event. For instance, "We are early now, but /s/we+were+early to the movie yesterday too".

What can I say instead of "we are early"?

You can use alternatives like "we are ahead of time", "we are ahead of schedule", or "we are at the beginning" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "we are early on" instead of "we are early"?

Yes, "we are early on" is a correct and commonly used variation that emphasizes that something is in its initial phase or stage. It adds a slight nuance by explicitly indicating the beginning stages of a process or development.