How Do You Spell Early?

  • Eseandre Mordi

  • 26 Feb 2024

Understanding the correct spelling of common adjectives and adverbs is crucial for effective communication. This article sheds light on the proper spelling of "early," explores common mistakes, and provides insight into its correct usage, definition, and etymology.

Correct Spelling of Early

The early spelling of this word is E-A-R-L-Y. It is an adverb or adjective, depending on its use in a sentence, signifying something happening or done before the expected time. Remembering the spelling of early is essential for accurate communication, particularly in written formats.

How can remember the correct spelling

One effective technique for remembering the spelling of early is to break it down phonetically into "ear" and "ly." Think of listening with your ear to someone speaking lyrics softly in the morning; this imagery might help anchor the spelling in your memory. Additionally, frequent practice and usage in writing will aid in memorization.

Common Spelling Mistakes

  • Erly - Omission of the first ‘a’ makes this spelling incorrect.
  • Earley - Adding an unnecessary ‘e’ before the ‘y’ is a common mistake.
  • Eraly - Misplacing the ‘l’ and ‘a’ also results in an incorrect spelling.

These errors often stem from mishearing the pronunciation or a misunderstanding of the English word formation rules.

Definition and Etymology of Early

The word early is used to describe actions or events happening before a given time or period. Its origins can be traced back to Old English ǣrlic (meaning "early") and is related to the word ere, which implies "before in time." Over time, the spelling evolved into the contemporary early, retaining its original meaning but adapting to modern usage and pronunciation.

Transcription of Early

The phonetic transcription of early is /ˈɜːr.li/. This represents how the word is pronounced, with emphasis on the first syllable, which sounds like "ur" in "hurdle". The ‘r’ is pronounced clearly, followed by a light ‘ly’ sound which softly closes the word.

Examples of Using of Early

  • She arrived early at the airport to avoid any delays.
  • The early bird catches the worm, as the old saying goes.
  • His early works were not as well-received as his later novels.
  • We discovered early on in our research that the data was flawed.
  • Getting up early allows me more time to prepare for my day.

FAQ

What does the word mean?
Early refers to something occurring or done before the expected or usual time.

Words Closely Related: preceding, premature, prompt.

Synonyms: soon, beforehand, ahead of time.

The difference between the words in American and British versions

The spelling of early remains the same in both American and British English. However, pronunciation and usage frequency might slightly differ, with minor variations in accent and emphasis on syllables but without affecting the spelling or its understanding in written form.

In which academic dictionaries you can find this word

  1. Oxford English Dictionary.
  2. Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
  3. Cambridge Dictionary.
  4. Collins English Dictionary.


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