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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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1st than

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "1st than" is not correct in written English.
It seems to be a confusion between "1st" and "than," which are not typically used together in this manner. Example: "I would rather be 1st than 2nd in the competition."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Additionally, with respect to differences within the groups, the sleep group was distinctly better in the forward as compared to the backward association (p = 0.007), but this effect was stronger for words in the 1st than 2nd transition (p = 0.008).

Science

Plosone

However, whether AT-rich or GC-rich, G is more abundant in 1st than in 2nd position of codons. 2 This can be regarded as a remnant of the GNC ancestral codon. 2 This feature is essential since it is conserved in P. falciparum.

The web site will work much better on November 30, December 1st than certainly it worked on October 1st.

News & Media

The Guardian

But in more than a quarter of the stations, the PRD did not even have a representative present.Mexico's financial world seems much more concerned with what happens after December 1st than with the short term.

News & Media

The Economist

Security in Iraq nevertheless remains inadequate; more U.S. troops (a hundred and sixty-eight) have been killed since Bush declared major combat operations to be over, on May 1st, than were slain during the invasion (a hundred and thirty-eight).

News & Media

The New Yorker

For decapods, substantially more nucleotide changes were observed at the 3rd codon position than the 1st, and more at the 1st than the 2nd: the SE of the GC % of the 3rd, 1st and 2nd bases of Decapoda were 0.213, 0.062 and 0.021, respectively (Table 4).

Science

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

And a better C3P0 than C3P0!

News & Media

The New York Times

What's more '80s than that?

News & Media

The New York Times

2More than one form (polymorph) exists.

11 than before.

News & Media

The New York Times

500 than the Russell 2000.

News & Media

The New York Times
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When making comparisons involving ordinal numbers, use constructions like "first rather than" or "more the first than the second" for clarity and correctness.

Common error

Do not combine ordinal numbers directly with "than" as in "1st than". This construction is grammatically incorrect. Use proper comparative structures.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

87%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "1st than" functions incorrectly as a comparative conjunction. Ludwig AI indicates it's not standard English. The intended function is to compare two items, prioritizing the first.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

11%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "1st than" is an incorrect construction attempting to express a comparison, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. The correct alternatives include phrases like "first rather than" or "first instead of". While the phrase appears in some sources, especially scientific publications and news media, it's grammatically flawed. Ensure clarity and credibility by using proper comparative structures in your writing, particularly in formal contexts.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "1st than"?

You can use alternatives like "first rather than" or "first instead of" to make grammatically correct comparisons.

Which is correct, "1st than" or "first rather than"?

"First rather than" is the correct and grammatical way to express a preference or comparison involving ordinal positions. "1st than" is incorrect.

How to use "first rather than" in a sentence?

You can use "first rather than" to show preference: "I would choose the first option rather than the second."

What's the difference between "1st than" and "first compared to"?

"First compared to" is used for direct comparisons, while "1st than" is an incorrect way to express the same. Always use correct grammatical structures for clear communication.

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Source & Trust

87%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: