Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
are firstly required
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "are firstly required" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward to some readers.
It can be used when outlining prerequisites or initial steps in a process, but "firstly" is often considered unnecessary or overly formal. Example: "Before proceeding with the project, certain documents are firstly required to ensure compliance with regulations."
Science
News & Media
Formal & Business
Alternative expressions(4)
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
To contribute to the DSSCDB, users are firstly required to register themselves.
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
59 human-written examples
To prove the stability of solitary waves, the well-posedness for equation (2.1) is firstly required.
Science
To achieve this, the most suitable structural adhesive selection is firstly required.
A GS model is firstly required to select J genes.
Science
In order to compute fast and ensure the existence of cored substructures that are key for determining whether the two fingerprint are similar, the Exact match operator was firstly performed, which requires the layers in two fingerprint matrices to be exactly the same (top three layers were adopted in our method), thus the fingerprints that do not match top three layers can be rejected quickly.
Science
All CR technologies require the coagulant metals to be firstly returned to the aqueous phase.
To be effective in the medical context three minimum criteria are required: firstly, clinically significant changes in the condition are possible over time; secondly, an objective test exists that reliably detects these changes; and finally a cost effective action in response to the test result is possible[ 13].
The benefit to account holders is, as you may recall, twofold: firstly, they are required to pay only £9 to enter the Central zone compared with £10 for non-account holders; secondly, paying automatically means they aren't at risk of being fined for late payment.
News & Media
Firstly, trustees are required to make sure that agent is suitable for the job he is employed to do.
Wiki
To obtain the outage performance and average SER of the interested CC-MIMO multiuser downlink transmission systems, (10) indicates that the statistical descriptions of the RVs γ 1, γ 2, and γ 3 are required firstly [30 33].
Firstly, require a borrower to show them their tax returns.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Consider replacing "are firstly required" with more concise alternatives like "are required first" or "must be initially required" for improved clarity and flow.
Common error
Avoid using "are firstly required" in informal contexts as it can sound overly formal. Opt for simpler alternatives like "are needed first" or "are required initially" in less formal writing.
Source & Trust
80%
Authority and reliability
3.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "are firstly required" functions as a predicate adjective, indicating a necessary condition or prerequisite. It specifies what is essential or mandatory at the beginning of a process or situation, as seen in the Ludwig examples.
Frequent in
Science
60%
Formal & Business
20%
News & Media
20%
Less common in
Wiki
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Social Media
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, while grammatically acceptable, the phrase "are firstly required" is somewhat awkward and rare. Ludwig’s analysis indicates it functions to outline necessary initial steps, primarily in formal or scientific contexts. More concise alternatives like "are required first" or "must be initially required" are often preferable for improved clarity. According to Ludwig AI, use of this phrase is acceptable but might sound unnatural to some users, so consider the audience and context carefully when writing.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
are required first
Reorders the words to emphasize the necessity of the requirement before anything else.
must be initially required
Uses "initially" instead of "firstly" to convey the same meaning, but with a slightly different tone.
are primarily needed
Replaces "required" with "needed" to convey a slightly less formal tone.
are essentially needed first
Emphasizes the essential nature of the initial requirement.
are fundamentally necessary
Highlights the fundamental necessity of certain elements.
are primarily a necessity
Rephrases to emphasize the initial necessity.
are key prerequisites
Replaces the entire phrase with a more concise term for initial requirements.
are the initial requirement
Directly states that something is the starting condition.
constitute the first necessity
A more formal way of expressing the initial requirement.
are the basic requirements
Highlights what is basic or fundamental.
FAQs
What does "are firstly required" mean?
The phrase "are firstly required" indicates that certain things must be in place or fulfilled before something else can happen or proceed. It highlights the initial necessity of specific conditions or items.
What can I say instead of "are firstly required"?
You can use alternatives like "are required first", "must be initially required", or "are primarily needed" depending on the context.
Is it grammatically correct to say "are firstly required"?
While not strictly incorrect, the phrasing "are firstly required" can sound somewhat awkward. More common and stylistically preferred alternatives include "are required first" or "must be initially required".
When should I use "are firstly required" in writing?
Use "are firstly required" when you want to emphasize that certain conditions or steps absolutely must be in place at the beginning of a process. However, consider whether simpler alternatives might sound more natural and be more easily understood.
Editing plus AI, all in one place.
Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
80%
Authority and reliability
3.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested