were early on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were early on" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something occurred at an early stage or point in time. Example: "The researchers found that the symptoms were early on in the development of the disease."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

I would say that one of the most important relationships in my career were early on when I partnered with a woman in operations and together we opened new markets and learned and supported one another.

Huffington Post

You learn what their value systems were early on.

The New York Times

They were early on here, sharper and more threatening from the start and taking the lead in the 17th minute.

Independent

Ruud Gullit will be fine too, especially as his table-topping Galaxy team continues to improve and amaze given how poor they were early on this season.

The Guardian - Sport

(Or at least the parts of it that were, early on, conscious political projects often led to the worst political results, such as the Reign of Terror).

The New Yorker

Morecambe and Wise were not as brilliant at the end of their career as they were early on because you could see their jokes coming".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

"It's early on in the curve.

The New York Times

This was early on.

The Guardian - Film

Well, it was early on.

The New York Times - Arts

It was early on the Saturday morning.

The Guardian

"It's early on in the season.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were early on", ensure that the context clearly establishes what 'early' refers to. For instance, specify the period, project, or stage you are referencing to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "were early on" without providing specific context or a clear reference point. For example, instead of saying 'Mistakes were early on', specify 'Mistakes were early on in the project' to enhance clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were early on" functions as a temporal indicator, specifying when something occurred in relation to a particular timeframe or sequence. Ludwig examples confirm its role in positioning events or states within an initial period.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were early on" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to denote the timing of events or states within an initial phase or period. Ludwig confirms this through numerous examples spanning across News & Media, Academia, and Science domains. Its neutral to informal register makes it suitable for diverse contexts. The key to effective usage lies in providing sufficient context to clarify what 'early' refers to, thereby avoiding ambiguity. Ludwig AI indicates a positive sentiment towards the phrase's usability and correctness. Related alternatives include phrases like "happened early" or "occurred at the start".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

happened early

Focuses on the timing of an event, emphasizing it occurred at the beginning.

occurred at the start

Highlights the beginning or commencement of an event or state.

were present at the inception

Emphasizes being involved from the very beginning or creation.

existed from the outset

Indicates a condition or state that was in place right from the beginning.

commenced at an early stage

Highlights the initial phase of a process or activity.

began in the initial phase

Focuses on the starting point of a development or project.

developed early in the process

Indicates that something evolved or matured at the beginning.

emerged at the beginning

Highlights the first appearance or start of something.

were in place from the start

Emphasizes the presence of certain conditions or elements from the initial moment.

initiated at the outset

Focuses on the action of starting something from the very beginning.

FAQs

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

Use "were early on" to indicate that something happened or existed at an early stage of a process, project, or period. For example: "They "were early on" in adopting new technologies."

What phrases are similar to "were early on"?

Alternatives include "happened early", "occurred at the start", or "existed from the outset". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "was early on" instead of "were early on"?

No, "was early on" is only correct when referring to a singular subject. The phrase "were early on" is used with plural subjects or in contexts where 'were' is grammatically required.

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

"Were early" implies a state of being ahead of schedule or prompt, while "were early on" suggests something occurred at the beginning of a process or timeline. The addition of "on" emphasizes the phase or stage in which something happened.