I suggested first

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I suggested first" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that you were the first person to make a suggestion in a discussion or conversation. Example: "During the meeting, I suggested first that we should consider a new marketing strategy to boost our sales."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The remaining major concern is the decision not to do the experiment I suggested: first to induce MYC expression by low-dose (e.g. 300 nM) i-CDK9 treatment for 8 hr, and then try to shut it off with a higher dose (2 µM).

eLife

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

I suggest first that you consider whether a different denomination might be a better fit for you.

The New York Times

So here's what I suggest: First, and everywhere, look for passive savings — meaning, you leave your lifestyle unchanged and simply pay less for it.

The Washington Post

I suggest, first, that twice every month the Composer of the Week should be a living person; and, second, that every day some dissenting and quarrelsome voices should be heard (for instance, dismissing Beethoven as boring or Benjamin Britten as shallow).

The Guardian

If the government want to do anything good, I suggest first of all they have a border inspection when people leave the country to get to know properly how many people come in and how many leaves.

BBC

I suggest first eliminating one thing at a time.

Huffington Post

(Male nurse facility manager, 39 years, PHC) Another participant pointed out: I suggest first of all that the manager look for strategies to improve staff working conditions, i.e. equipment, training opportunities and career development as money cannot overcome all problems.

Global Health Action

Here's what I suggest: First point into arrow blow, so you have an attack.

WikiHow

So I have to just deal with my mood, as ugly it is, by doing just as Larry suggested: First I treat the collateral damage.

Huffington Post

While this is a viable option, I would suggest first looking at the requestor's quality of life.

University of California, Berkeley

When straight guy friends used to ask me for advice on how to talk to women, I'd suggest, first, that they ask the women something about themselves.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "I suggested first", ensure it's clear that you are referring to the chronological order of suggestions or proposals, especially when multiple suggestions are involved.

Common error

Avoid using "I suggested first" when you simply want to express a preference without explicitly stating that you were the first to propose it. In such cases, a simpler statement like "I suggest" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I suggested first" functions as a statement of priority or initiation. It indicates that the speaker was the first to propose an idea or course of action. Ludwig shows this usage in various contexts, ranging from scientific experiments to general advice.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

35%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I suggested first" is a grammatically sound phrase used to indicate that the speaker was the first to propose something. As Ludwig AI underlines, this phrase is correct and readily usable in English, most commonly found in scientific, news-related and academic contexts. While not very common, its use is clear and serves the purpose of emphasizing the speaker's role in initiating an idea. When using this phrase, ensure clarity in the context and consider more formal or emphatic alternatives like "I initially proposed" or "I was the first to suggest" depending on the desired effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was the first to suggest

Directly asserts being the originator of the suggestion.

I initially proposed

Focuses on the act of proposing something at the beginning.

My first suggestion was

Highlights that it was the initial suggestion made.

I recommended initially

Emphasizes the act of recommending something at the onset.

I started by suggesting

Indicates the beginning of a series of suggestions with this particular one.

The first thing I suggested

Highlights temporal order and the act of suggesting.

I pioneered the suggestion of

Stresses the innovative and leading role of the suggestion.

My opening proposal was

Formal alternative, emphasizing the introductory nature of the proposal.

I was the initial proponent of

Emphasizes advocacy and being the first to support the idea.

I put forth the initial suggestion

Highlights the act of presenting the suggestion at the beginning.

FAQs

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

Use "I suggested first" to indicate that your suggestion was the initial one made in a discussion. For example: "I suggested first that we analyze the budget before making any decisions."

What is a more formal alternative to "I suggested first"?

A more formal alternative is "I initially proposed". This phrase maintains a professional tone while conveying the same meaning.

What can I say instead of "I suggested first" to emphasize the importance of my suggestion?

To highlight the importance, you can use phrases like "My first suggestion was" or "I recommended initially". These phrases emphasize that it was your initial thought.

Is there a difference between "I suggested first" and "I was the first to suggest"?

While similar, "I was the first to suggest" more directly emphasizes that you were the originator of the idea, whereas "I suggested first" focuses on the chronological order of the suggestions.