Here's why:
* Date Range: Both plays are generally dated to the period between 1590 and 1594.
* Similar Style: Both plays share a playful, lighthearted tone, with a focus on mistaken identities and farcical humor.
* Early Works: Both are considered to be among Shakespeare's earlier works.
However, it's important to note that:
* Exact Dating is Difficult: The exact dates of Shakespeare's plays are often debated and difficult to pin down definitively.
* Other Possibilities: Other plays from this period could also be contenders, such as *Love's Labour's Lost* or *The Two Gentlemen of Verona*.
Ultimately, while *The Comedy of Errors* is the most likely candidate for being written around the same time as *A Midsummer Night's Dream*, we can't say for certain that they were written concurrently.