[Grammar] In the early 1920s / in the first half of the 1920s

[Isobela]

Hello everyone,

Can someone please explain me if the phrase "in the early 1920s" can be used instead of "in the first half of the 1920s"?

Do they mean the same? I am looking for a shorter version of "in the first half of..."

Thank you very much!

 

[MikeNewYork]

"In the early 1920s" is fine.

 

[Rover_KE]

I call the early 1920s 1920/21/22/23. The mid 1920s are 1924/25/26. The late 1920s are 1927/28/29.

It depends how accurate you need to be. The first half of the 1920s is less accurate than the above. If you want to be more accurate, specify the actual years.

 

[Roman55]

I am not a teacher.

I don't find, 'in the first half of the 1920s' particularly natural myself.

This sort of phrase is more natural when talking about centuries than decades.

 

[Isobela]

Thank you all very much for your comments. I have one more question. Is it natural and correct to begin a sentence with "At the turn of the 20s and 30s", leaving out "of the 20th century" when it is clear from the text that the events happend in the 20th century?

 

[Isobela]

I am not a teacher.

I don't find, 'in the first half of the 1920s' particularly natural myself.

This sort of phrase is more natural when talking about centuries than decades.

May I ask how would you suggest to rewrite it? "In the first half of the 20s of the 20th/last century"? Many thanks.

 

[Roman55]

I am not a teacher.

I would probably say what you originally suggested, 'In the early 1920s'

 

[MikeNewYork]

Thank you all very much for your comments. I have one more question. Is it natural and correct to begin a sentence with "At the turn of the 20s and 30s", leaving out "of the 20th century" when it is clear from the text that the events happend in the 20th century?

I would not use that terminology. I would say "During the 20s and 30s" unless there is reason to be more specific. If you need to be specific you could use "From 192X to 193X".