"a little early" vs "a little earlier"

Question

"a little early" vs "a little earlier"

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'A little early' is used to indicate that something is happening slightly before the expected time, while 'a little earlier' is used to refer to an action that occurred at a slightly earlier time than another action.

Last Updated: March 24, 2024

This phrase is used to describe an action or event that is happening a bit sooner than anticipated.

Examples:

We arrived a little early for the meeting.
She always wakes up a little early to have some quiet time before the day starts.
It's a little early to make a decision about the project.
He finished his work a little early today.
The bus arrived a little early, so we didn't have to wait long.

Alternatives:

slightly early
a bit early
a tad early
a touch early
a smidge early

This phrase is used to compare the timing of two actions, indicating that one happened slightly before the other.

Examples:

She left a little earlier than usual today.
Could you please come a little earlier tomorrow?
I wish I had woken up a little earlier to catch the sunrise.
He finished his homework a little earlier than his classmates.
The train arrived a little earlier than expected.

Alternatives:

slightly earlier
a bit earlier
a tad earlier
a touch earlier
a smidge earlier

Answer 1

a little early

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate that something is happening slightly before the expected time.

Answer 2

a little earlier

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to refer to an action that occurred at a slightly earlier time than another action.

"a little early" vs "a little earlier"

a little early

a little earlier

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