I first mentioned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I first mentioned" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a prior instance where you brought up a topic or idea for the first time. Example: "In our last meeting, I first mentioned the need for a new marketing strategy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Regular readers may recall that I first mentioned Empire as a possible short a fortnight ago.

The Guardian - Business

The idea of travelling 2,000 miles around the UK got me some odd looks when I first mentioned it to my colleagues at Twilio's European HQ.

The Guardian

Weeks earlier, when I first mentioned to Pat the possibility of my writing a story about his attempt to make the Falcons as an undrafted free agent, he was open to the idea.

The New York Times - Magazine

Both times — when I first mentioned the program eight months ago and when I wrote about it again almost two months ago — I thought we were just a few weeks from introducing the program.

The New York Times

Now, when I first mentioned that we make our own ketchup, you looked excited, no doubt because you thought, Wow, what a fresh, organic experience I'm about to have.

The New Yorker

We're too concerned about breast-feeding, and too worried about buying the right strollers, bottles and swaddles for optimal infant development  — when I first mentioned swaddling to my mother, her response was, "What the (expletive-deleted) is a swaddle?" They drank through our pregnancies, let us sleep on our stomachs, and mostly formula fed us, and we turned out pretty much fine, didn't we?

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

He's clearly excited about his literary foray: he giggles when I first mention one of his stories by its title "because you're the first person bar the book folk who's said it" and is looking forward to gigging with them on his forthcoming Daft Wee Tour.

The Guardian

When I had first mentioned moving she had become extremely alarmed: "What do you want to move for?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

When I'd first mentioned it, he'd simply said "no," but this time we talked for hours.

Vice

In existing sources, Piast ruler Mieszko I was first mentioned by Widukind of Corvey in his Res gestae saxonicae, a chronicle of 10th-century Germany.

Wikipedia

Looking back at Period I, Promin was first mentioned in Leprosy Review in 1945, but it was not until 1952 that sulfone therapy became accepted among academics[ 111, 112].

BMC International Health and Human Rights

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I first mentioned" to clearly signal that you are referring back to something you previously introduced, providing context and continuity for your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "I first mentioned" excessively in close proximity. If you've already established that you are referring back to something, subsequent mentions can be more concise, such as "as I said before" or simply re-stating the core idea.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I first mentioned" functions as a discourse marker, signaling to the audience that the speaker or writer is referring back to a topic previously introduced. Ludwig AI confirms that it's a valid and frequently used phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Vice

12%

Huffington Post

8%

Less common in

TechCrunch

4%

Wikipedia

4%

Encyclopedia Britannica

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I first mentioned" is a common and grammatically correct way to refer back to a previously introduced topic or idea. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability. While versatile, it's best used to provide clear context and avoid redundancy. Alternatives like "I initially stated" or "I previously brought up" can add variety to your writing while maintaining clarity. By understanding its function and potential pitfalls, you can effectively use "I first mentioned" to enhance your communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I had mentioned before

Simple rephrasing using past perfect for emphasis.

I had previously stated

Past perfect tense for emphasis, focusing on the previous act of stating.

I initially stated

Focuses on the act of stating something at the beginning.

Earlier, I had brought up

Reorders the sentence for different emphasis, still indicating a prior mention.

I previously brought up

Highlights the act of raising a topic in a past conversation.

I had earlier indicated

More formal, suggesting a prior indication of something.

I originally introduced

Emphasizes the introduction of a new idea or concept.

I earlier alluded to

Suggests a more indirect or subtle reference in the past.

I broached the subject earlier

Focuses on the act of initiating a conversation on a specific topic.

I touched upon this before

Suggests a brief or cursory mention in the past.

FAQs

How can I use "I first mentioned" in a sentence?

Use "I first mentioned" to refer to a topic or idea that you introduced earlier in a conversation or piece of writing. For example, "I first mentioned the budget constraints in our initial meeting."

What are some alternatives to "I first mentioned"?

You can use alternatives such as "I initially stated", "I previously brought up", or "I had mentioned before" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "I first mentioned previously"?

Yes, saying "I first mentioned previously" is redundant. "First" already implies that it was the initial mention, so adding "previously" is unnecessary.

How does "I first mentioned" differ from "I mentioned earlier"?

"I first mentioned" specifically highlights that it was the initial time you brought up the topic, whereas "I mentioned earlier" simply indicates that you mentioned it at some point in the past.