As a first impression

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "As a first impression" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing initial thoughts or feelings about someone or something. Example: "As a first impression, she seemed very confident and knowledgeable." Alternative expressions include "At first glance" and "Initially."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

As a first impression, I got what Yotaphone is doing more than I got what Nokia is doing.

MIT Technology Review

As a first impression, the debut album may take on a mythical status, whether the artist or group achieves enduring success or in rare cases when an initial record turns out to be an apogee for an artist.

Stanford University

As a first impression, Mike Birbiglia comes across as unassuming, yet coyly sharp.

Huffington Post

I expect hardware to keep getting better but what impressed me -- at least as a first impression -- was the software that Samsung added to the phone.

Forbes

I asked Grace if she wanted me to tell them she had been anorexic, but she didn't - she didn't want that as a first impression.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The interviewers (authors) wrote a brief reflective memo after each interview as a first impression.

Journal for Labour Market Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

He makes as good a first impression as the opening morsels: a rainbow of vegetables punched up with numbing Sichuan peppercorns, kicky kimchi, slender chicken spring rolls best dipped into Chinese mustard.

The Washington Post

The whole questionnaire is on a single page, allowing for a first impression as one that is less challenging than a lengthier document.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

It was not the immediate impact on the scoreboard that will be expected from them as the season progresses, but for a first impression, it was fine.

The New York Times - Sports

They left TD Garden calling their debut as positive a first impression imaginable for a group attempting to pull off a difficult feat – building trust on the fly while holding onto a playoff spot in the regular season's stretch run.

Los Angeles Times

This is very important as it makes a first impression.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "As a first impression" to introduce subjective opinions based on initial observations, ensuring the context clearly indicates that these are preliminary judgments.

Common error

Avoid presenting initial impressions as definitive conclusions; always indicate that further assessment might be necessary to form a complete opinion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "As a first impression" functions as an introductory phrase, setting the stage for an initial observation or opinion. This is evident in examples provided by Ludwig, where it prefaces subjective assessments.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "As a first impression" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to introduce initial thoughts or feelings. Ludwig AI indicates it is suitable across various contexts, including News & Media, Science and Academia. While generally neutral in tone, consider slightly more formal options for strict academic usage. Remember to use it when you want to emphasize the preliminary nature of your assessment. Be careful to not state initial impressions as definitive ones.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

At first glance

This alternative refers to an initial assessment based on a quick look.

Initially

This alternative is a single-word adverb conveying the idea of something happening at the beginning.

On initial inspection

This alternative is more formal, suggesting a preliminary examination.

On first encounter

This alternative emphasizes the first experience or meeting with someone or something.

From the outset

This alternative emphasizes the beginning stage or phase of something.

To begin with

This alternative is often used to introduce the first point or consideration.

Upon introduction

This alternative focuses on the moment of being presented or introduced to something.

In the beginning

This alternative directly refers to the start or commencement of something.

At the start

This alternative points to the commencement or initiation of an event or process.

At the preliminary stage

This alternative highlights the early or initial phase of a process or project.

FAQs

How can I use "As a first impression" in a sentence?

You can use "As a first impression" to introduce your initial thoughts or feelings about something or someone. For example, "As a first impression, the speaker seemed very confident".

What are some alternatives to "As a first impression"?

You can use alternatives like "initially", "at first glance", or "on initial inspection" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "As a first impression" in formal writing?

Yes, "As a first impression" is suitable for both formal and informal writing. However, consider more formal alternatives like "on initial inspection" or "upon introduction" in highly formal contexts.

What's the difference between "As a first impression" and "In my opinion"?

"As a first impression" specifically refers to an opinion formed at the initial stage of encountering something, whereas "in my opinion" is a general expression of a viewpoint that may or may not be based on a first encounter.