Grammar Man: Early On...YUCK!

My mother pointed this gripe out to me in the 1990's. It drove her up a figurative wall, and sometimes she'd correct people or let loose some sarcastic remark

What is this thing that infuriated her so much?

EARLY ON

The question is early on what? The word "on" is a preposition. According to rule 1c of the Harbrace Handbook, a preposition has an object, usually a noun or pronoun, that helps to establish a relationship, such as space, time, accompaniment, cause or manner, between the object and another part of the sentence. A preposition plus its object and other words with it are called a prepositional phrase."

In this case, on needs an object. So, what or who completes "early on?" The same applies to the use of "later on." To correct the mistake, all that's necessary is dropping the "on" and using "earlier" or "later" alone.

I hope folks will choose to use the proper form. My mother will rest better in her heavenly home, and my blood pressure will remain lower.