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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
I was firstly
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "I was firstly" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct usage would typically be "I was first" or "Firstly, I was." Example: "Firstly, I was surprised by the outcome of the meeting."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
1 human-written examples
The class Q ( I ) was firstly described in [1] by Godunova and Levin.
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
59 human-written examples
In this study, ANNs-I is firstly constructed by using 324 data sets collected from 21 international published literatures, which are randomly divided into three groups as the training, testing and validation sets, respectively.
Patient-specific Id is firstly assembled as a single chain variable fragment (scFv) encoding the tumour-derived V H and V L region genes and next fused to fragment C (FrC) of tetanus toxin, an immune alert signal shown to significantly enhance the immunological response [ 7, 20, 21].
In this study, effects of a T βR-I inhibitor was firstly evaluated by means of DCE-MRI with Gd-DTPA and Gd-L in mice bearing colon 26 tumours.
Science
The mRNA expression of BNP and NPRA before and after BmK I injection was firstly examined in DRG and spinal cord using real-time, quantitative PCR technique.
Condition ( a 2 ) is very weak in dealing with the operator − Δ + ( λ a ( x ) + 1 ) I on, which was firstly used by Bartsch and Wang [1] in dealing with the semilinear Schrödinger equation.
Science
So the enjoyment around that was firstly because I believed in it and I studied it and secondly it was creative – trying to solve things means you're constantly in creation mode.
News & Media
Cranial variation was firstly assessed multivariately.
Science
SrTiO3 nanoparticles and SrTiO3/BiOI composites were firstly synthesized via a sol-gel method as described in the literature [25, 26].
Science
The unipolar I-V characteristics were firstly attained via sweeping potentials from 0 to 5 V in steps of 0.1 V and then back to 0 V.
Science
Instead, a subset S(G i ) of G i, which is concluded to satisfy that ∀ r, s∈ S(G i ), r ⊓̸ s, is firstly extracted from G i. We call it a seed of G i.
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When intending to convey a sequence or order, prefer using "Firstly, I was..." to correctly position the adverbial phrase. Alternatively, use "I was first" to directly state your position in a sequence.
Common error
Avoid placing "firstly" directly after "I was". This construction is grammatically awkward. Instead, use "Firstly, I was..." or "I was first..." for clarity and correctness.
Source & Trust
60%
Authority and reliability
1.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "I was firstly" attempts to function as a statement of sequence or order, but it's grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI indicates, standard English prefers "Firstly, I was..." or "I was first...".
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Ludwig's WRAP-UP
The phrase "I was firstly" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. As Ludwig AI points out, the correct alternatives are "Firstly, I was..." or "I was first". The intended purpose of the phrase is to introduce an initial state or event in a sequence, but the non-standard word order obscures this intention. When aiming for clarity and correctness, it's best to avoid "I was firstly" and opt for one of the recommended alternatives. Ensure that "firstly" is used as an introductory adverb or rephrase the sentence to correctly express the intended meaning.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
I was first
Omits the adverb "firstly" which is grammatically incorrect when directly following "was".
Firstly, I was
Reorders the sentence to correctly use "firstly" as an introductory adverb.
Initially, I was
Substitutes "firstly" with "initially", providing a similar meaning with correct grammar.
At first, I was
Uses "at first" as an alternative introductory phrase with similar meaning.
To begin with, I was
Offers a more formal way to introduce a sequence of events or thoughts.
My initial reaction was
Shifts the focus to the initial reaction, implying the 'first' sentiment.
My first impression was
Similar to "My initial reaction was", this highlights the first impression.
I initially felt
Replaces "was firstly" with "initially felt" to convey the initial feeling or state.
I originally was
Uses "originally" instead of "firstly" to indicate the initial state.
I started by
Focuses on the starting action, omitting the direct statement of being 'first'.
FAQs
What is the correct way to use "firstly" in a sentence?
Use "firstly" as an introductory adverb followed by a comma, like this: "Firstly, [statement]". For example: "Firstly, I want to thank everyone for coming".
Is it grammatically correct to say "I was firstly"?
No, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. Better options include "I was first" or "Firstly, I was...".
What can I say instead of "I was firstly"?
Consider alternatives such as "I was first" or "Firstly, I was" depending on the context.
Which is correct, "I was firstly" or "Firstly, I was"?
"Firstly, I was" is the correct and more common usage. "I was firstly" is not standard English.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
60%
Authority and reliability
1.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested