were expected earlier

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were expected earlier" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that was anticipated to happen or arrive before the current time or a specified time. Example: "The reports were expected earlier, but they were delayed due to unforeseen circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Official partial results were expected early on Monday.

The Guardian

The first results were expected early on Monday, according to CENI.

The Guardian

But Carlos Ortiz, chairman of the 19-member board, said the financial troubles began when grants that were expected early in the year were late in coming.

The New York Times

But significant adverse impacts are expected earlier from more frequent and prolonged heatwaves, droughts and floods.

The Guardian

In the present study, the phytoplankton reacted to the PAR rather than to the UVR range in solar radiation as was expected earlier.

Environmental Sciences Europe

The response into the report which said Welsh government should have some tax-varying powers was expected earlier in the year.

BBC

The baseline window is chosen in accordance with the literature [ 26, 27], as the earliest cortical signal is the N20m and no brain signal is expected earlier.

Biomedical Optics Express

A decision is expected early in June.

The New York Times

I suppose that was to be expected early on.

The Guardian - Sport

Shanahan said such errors are to be expected early on.

The Washington Post

An initial hearing is expected early in the new year.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were expected earlier" to indicate a past expectation that something would occur sooner than it actually did. Ensure the context clearly establishes the basis for the expectation.

Common error

Avoid using "were expected earlier" when referring to future expectations. This phrase is specifically for past expectations that did not materialize as anticipated.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were expected earlier" functions as a verb phrase in the passive voice, indicating a past expectation that something would occur sooner. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and serves to describe situations where anticipations were not met on the initially projected timeline.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were expected earlier" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe past expectations that did not materialize on the initially anticipated timeline. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts. While no direct examples were found in the provided data, the phrase is versatile enough to fit into news, formal, and general discussions. Remember to use it when conveying that something was anticipated in the past but experienced delays or changes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been expected sooner

Adds emphasis to the past expectation that something would happen sooner.

were supposed to occur sooner

Conveys a sense that something was intended to happen before it actually did.

were anticipated previously

Emphasizes the anticipation aspect with a focus on a prior time.

were due at an earlier time

Highlights that something was due or scheduled to occur before now.

were projected sooner

Highlights the forecasting or prediction aspect of the expectation.

were slated for an earlier date

Suggests that an event was put on the calendar for an earlier date.

were scheduled beforehand

Focuses on the planned or arranged nature of the expectation.

were timed to be earlier

Indicates that an event was specifically planned to happen at a prior time.

were foreseen in advance

Stresses the ability to see or predict the event before it happened.

were reckoned to happen sooner

Uses a more informal tone while still conveying the expectation.

FAQs

How can I use "were expected earlier" in a sentence?

Use "were expected earlier" to describe situations where something was anticipated to happen or arrive before a certain point in time. For example, "The results "were expected earlier", but there were delays".

What are some alternatives to "were expected earlier"?

You can use alternatives such as "were anticipated previously", "were due at an earlier time", or "had been expected sooner" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "was expected earlier"?

No, "was expected earlier" is grammatically incorrect when referring to a plural subject. You should use "were expected earlier" for plural subjects and "was expected earlier" for singular subjects.

What's the difference between "were expected earlier" and "are expected earlier"?

"Were expected earlier" refers to something that was anticipated in the past but did not happen as expected, while "are expected earlier" suggests something is currently anticipated to happen sooner than originally planned.