First thing today

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "First thing today" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the initial task or action to be taken at the beginning of the day. Example: "First thing today, I need to review the project proposal before the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

First thing today is a meeting with the other scientists in my team: Mervyn, the project leader, Mike, a senior radar scientist, and Gareth, my counterpart on the experimental side of things.

Science Magazine

10.56am BST "I will forgive Cook many of his failings", posits the magnanimous Ravi Nair, "if he makes up for not playing Ali first thing yesterday, by not playing him first thing today either.

The Guardian - Sport

If he had added a just few more words, say, "Handle Facebook user responses first thing today because we had a lot of complaints overnight," we could have avoided unnecessary back and forth.

Forbes

MOORPARK — The game film will be queued up first thing today and Flintridge Prep first-year football Coach Antonio Harrison will have plenty to say to his players.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

And buried first thing tomorrow morning".

The New Yorker

Bond's dreams were shattered the first thing yesterday morning.

The New York Times - Sports

Andrew Sparrow will be with you first thing tomorrow.

The Guardian

I can get you those files first thing tomorrow.

The New Yorker

"Au contraire — I'm getting myself discharged A.M.A., first thing tomorrow".

The New Yorker

First thing tomorrow I'm looking into moving Max to a different school".

Independent

I made a mental note to buy myself both those items first thing tomorrow.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "First thing today" to clearly indicate the initial task or action to be addressed at the start of the day, ensuring clarity in communication.

Common error

Avoid using "First thing today" loosely to refer to actions later in the morning. Reserve it for tasks genuinely tackled at the very beginning of the workday to maintain accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "First thing today" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, indicating when an action should be performed. As Ludwig AI explains, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "First thing today" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that indicates an action should be performed at the beginning of the current day. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While relatively rare, it's primarily found in news and media contexts and serves to prioritize tasks. Alternatives include "at the start of the day" or "early in the day". Use it to clearly specify the timing of actions for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

First off today

A more informal way to say "First thing today".

At the start of the day

Focuses on the beginning of the day without specifying an action.

Early in the day

Emphasizes the time of day but not necessarily the immediate beginning.

Right away today

Highlights immediacy, though not exclusively at the start of the day.

As the day begins

A more descriptive and slightly formal alternative.

The day's first task

Focuses on the task rather than the time.

The first order of business today

Emphasizes the priority of the task.

Upon starting the day

Highlights the commencement of daily activities.

To begin with today

More formal and implies a sequence of actions.

Initially, for today

Stresses the initial action specifically for the current day.

FAQs

How can I use "First thing today" in a sentence?

You can use "First thing today" to indicate the initial action or task to be addressed at the beginning of the day. For example, "First thing today, I will review the project proposal."

What are some alternatives to "First thing today"?

Alternatives include "at the start of the day", "early in the day", or "the first order of business today", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "First thing this morning" instead of "First thing today"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct. "First thing today" is more general, while "First thing this morning" is more specific to the morning hours of the current day.

What is the difference between "First thing today" and "First thing tomorrow"?

"First thing today" refers to the immediate start of the current day, while "First thing tomorrow" refers to the immediate start of the next day.