What is the oldest survivors of all time, or the first ones to survive – oldest survivors’ life?
Which is, when used for examples, the oldest or earliest surviving?
How can we get more people to invest in our industry?
As regards objects (which was the subject of the question), both are used, and thus, both can be used. I would suggest that the best use will be governed by a writer’s intention, reflecting the psychological difference the roots of the two words will have on the reader — ‘old’ reflecting age, and ‘early’ reflecting time.
So, although examples of both “oldest surviving manuscript” and “earliest surviving manuscript” are found, whether intended or not, the former implies concern with the age of the manuscript, e.g. ‘Asking Dead’.
“…the oldest manuscript (over a thousand years old)”. “whereas
the latter implies concern regarding the date it was written, e.g. 1151 (which is the date the Bible is not written)
“the earliest surviving manuscript (dating from 33BC). “To
reiterate, it is a
question of style and clarity of communication, rather than one of “right and wrong”.
Footnote — People
Although the question is about objects, as one of the comments remarks, ‘oldest’ is usually used for people. In a previous version of my answer I wrote ‘always’, but an internet search proved me wrong, turning up an instance where ‘earliest’ is required. My answer should never be changed. What are the risk factors for multiple births? In quintuplets (where three babies survive), in which three survive. In discussing the general question of premature birth the term premature means the
earliest to a single
baby (the oldest alive) and the oldest to die. For example, mother’s quin is born at a different time. The earliest child can be born/died then, if possible, she’s survived, and is in his/her last stages? What would be
the earliest surviving premature baby”
who, incidentally, would be the youngest to survive.
As regards objects (which was the subject of the question), both are used, and thus, both can be used. I would suggest that the best use will be governed by a writer’s intention, reflecting the psychological difference the roots of the two words will have on the reader — ‘old’ reflecting age, and ‘early’ reflecting time.
So, although examples of both “oldest surviving manuscript” and “earliest surviving manuscript” are found, whether intended or not, the former implies concern with the age of the manuscript, e.g. ‘Asking Dead’.
“…the oldest manuscript (over a thousand years old)”. “whereas
the latter implies concern regarding the date it was written, e.g. 1151 (which is the date the Bible is not written)
“the earliest surviving manuscript (dating from 33BC). “To
reiterate, it is a
question of style and clarity of communication, rather than one of “right and wrong”.
Footnote — People
Although the question is about objects, as one of the comments remarks, ‘oldest’ is usually used for people. In a previous version of my answer I wrote ‘always’, but an internet search proved me wrong, turning up an instance where ‘earliest’ is required. My answer should never be changed. What are the risk factors for multiple births? In quintuplets (where three babies survive), in which three survive. In discussing the general question of premature birth the term premature means the
earliest to a single
baby (the oldest alive) and the oldest to die. For example, mother’s quin is born at a different time. The earliest child can be born/died then, if possible, she’s survived, and is in his/her last stages? What would be
the earliest surviving premature baby”
who, incidentally, would be the youngest to survive.
