The phrase "acknowledged that the first" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a recognition or admission regarding the first item in a series or context.
Example: "The committee acknowledged that the first proposal was the most comprehensive and well-researched."
Alternatives: "recognized that the first" or "admitted that the first".
Manning threw interceptions on the first two possessions against Chicago and acknowledged that the first came on a poor read.
NASA officials acknowledged that the first nonastronaut to visit the station -- Dennis A. Tito, a financial adviser from Los Angeles -- would have qualified under the criteria.
In a telephone interview this week, Mr. Wilpert acknowledged that the first shots seem to have been fired from a building known as La Nacional, which housed the administrative offices of Freddy Bernal, the pro-Chávez mayor of central Caracas.
Drysdale acknowledged that the first two legs of the Triple Crown had taken a lot out of Fusaichi Pegasus and was waiting on a workout scheduled for yesterday before committing him to the Belmont.
Pope Francis acknowledged that the first draft of the document was written by his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI.
Although it is often acknowledged that the first two examples are philosophically untenable, it ought to be admitted, von Hartmann contends, that the third sort of statement is also inaccurate.
Mr. Bloomberg originally said that all raises had to be offset by corresponding productivity increases, but on Tuesday he acknowledged that the first-year cash payment and second-year 3percentt raise would not be financed by labor savings.
Dr. Jack Lewin, chief executive of the California Medical Association, acknowledged that the Ninth Circuit's decision and the Supreme Court's refusal to review it left some questions unresolved.
Mr. Sheed acknowledged that the second rule — to avoid too many "short aphoristic dismissals unless your taste in them is absolutely infallible" — was the "complete opposite" of the first.
Mr. Kim of Nomura acknowledged that the third-quarter report was better than Nomura expected but added that there was "no upside potential" despite the strong asset value of the handsets.
