ahead vs ahead of time (in meaning: 'in advance')

[mrwroc]

On the website below I found 'ahead' can mean 'in advance':
https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/ahead?q=ahead

• SYNONYM in advance
  • The party was planned weeks ahead.

But, on that website I found 'ahead of time' means 'in advance':
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/ahead-of-time

Can I use 'ahead' if I want to do something in advance or only 'ahead of time' / 'in advance'? Can I say:

• The rent is due one month ahead.

??

 

[GoesStation]

No. Dictionaries tell you what a word can mean. The precise meaning depends on the context. Words listed as synonyms can rarely be used completely interchangeably.

 

[mrwroc]

OK, but is this sentence correct:

• The rent is due one month ahead.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

OK, but is this sentence correct:

• The rent is due one month ahead.

No. See post #2.

 

[GoesStation]

OK, but is this sentence correct:

• The rent is due one month ahead.

No. Ahead of what?

 

[mrwroc]

No. Ahead of what?

So why:
The rent is due one month ahead OF TIME.
and
The party was planned weeks ahead.

??

Does "plan ahead" is the idiom, and this is the reason why we don't use "plan ahead of time"??

 

[emsr2d2]

"The party was planned weeks ahead [of the date of the party]." This makes sense because the planning and the party are on different dates.
"The rent is due one month ahead of the date the rent is due." This doesn't make sense because the rent can't be due before it's due!

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

So why:
The rent is due one month ahead OF TIME.

That doesn't make sense. It needs to be rephrased.

and
The party was planned weeks ahead.

That's fine. You can also say: The party was planned weeks ahead of time.

[STRIKE]??[/STRIKE]

Is "plan ahead" an idiom, and this is the reason why we don't use "plan ahead of time"?

You can certainly plan something ahead of time. In fact, that's the only time you can plan it.

Ahead and ahead of time are both worthwhile terms, but they don't mean quite the same thing. When you use ahead of time, it needs to be clear what time you're referring to. So:

- The rent is due one month ahead of what?

- The party was planned weeks ahead of what?​

Can you answer those questions? If it's clear what time it's ahead of, then it's fine to use ahead of time. If not, just use ahead.

Sometimes ahead of time is wrong:

- Me: Your big trip isn't until next year. Why are you reading all those travel books now?

- You: I'm planning ahead!​

 

[mrwroc]

:shock:

So, how can I change the following sentence to a sentence with 'ahead'?
The rent is due one month in advance.

Can I write the following:
The party was planned weeks in advance.

 

[emsr2d2]

:shock:

1. [STRIKE]So,[/STRIKE] How can I change the following sentence to a sentence with 'ahead'?
The rent is due one month in advance.

2. Can I write the following?
The party was planned weeks in advance.

1. You can't, and I don't know why you want to.
2. Yes.

 

[tedmc]

The rent is due one month in advance.

We talk about payment being due on a certain date. Due dates once fixed are seldom brought forward. It is the last payment date/deadline that is important. Payments may be due on a certain date but it doesn't not mean payment has to be made by that date.