Distinguishing Between Soon & Early

Soon and early are two words in the English language that often cause confusion due to the similarity in their meanings. However, there are some differences between the two words in terms of their connotations.

Key Takeaways

• Soon means ‘in a short time from now’
• Early means ‘before the appointed or the usual time’
• Early can also be used in expressions like ‘at the earliest’, ‘early morning’, and ‘early days’

The word ‘soon’ indicates the meaning of ‘in a short time from now’, as seen in the sentences: “I shall send you money soon” and “I am happy you would come soon.” In both sentences, the word ‘soon’ means ‘in a short time from now’.

On the other hand, the word ‘early’ is used in the sense of ‘before the appointed or the usual time’, as in the sentences: “Please come early tomorrow morning” and “I hope you will bring it early.” In both sentences, the word ‘early’ is used in the sense of ‘before the appointed or the usual time’.

There is a special use of the word ‘early’ in the expression ‘at the earliest’, as in the sentence “please return the book at the earliest by Monday.” In this sentence, the expression ‘at the earliest’ gives the meaning of ‘not later than’. It is interesting to note that the word ‘early’ is used as an adverb, and also in expressions such as ‘early morning’ and ‘early days’. These are the important differences between the two words ‘soon’ and ‘early’.