as a first move

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as a first move" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate an initial action or step taken in a process or strategy. Example: "As a first move, we should analyze the current market trends before making any decisions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

As a first move, he opted to support the SPD's candidate for the presidency, Gustav Heinemann.

The Guardian

Lidl is also considering launching a wine website as a first move into internet retailing in Britain.

The Guardian - Business

As a first move, the Regents voted to require that state tests for third through eighth grades be given on the same day all over the state.

The New York Times

As a first move towards confronting that disparity, the RNC is going out to recruit a chief technology and digital officer from Silicon Valley.

The Guardian

As a first move, the Trump administration refused to appoint or reappoint any member of the WTO Appellate Body, from any country.

The Washington Post

Last November it welcomed 50 galleries from 19 countries as a first move towards interesting visitors in a vast museum building project that will see its first openings in 2013.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

"It's very important, insofar as being a first move for establishing large-scale manufacturing assets globally," Morsy told The Huffington Post on Wednesday.

Huffington Post

Now he is resisting a fourth move, as New York City is trying to evict him, after reneging on a plan to help him buy a nearby building.

The New York Times

Roughly a third of the tips struck me as obvious, a third struck me as genius, and a third moved me to annotate the page with TELL DAD.

The New York Times - Books

"The FSB in Scotland regards this scheme as a bold first move to re-balance the rates system".

BBC

The US tycoons Martin E Franklin and Noam Gottesman listed Nomad a year ago to buy a business as the first move in creating a global consumer brands company.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as a first move" when outlining a clear sequence of actions, ensuring the initial step logically leads to subsequent steps.

Common error

Avoid using "as a first move" in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "to start" or "first" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as a first move" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the initial action in a sequence. Ludwig provides examples where it introduces a decision, a strategy, or a step taken towards a goal.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as a first move" is a grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to introduce the initial action in a sequence of events. Ludwig's AI indicates it's suitable for signaling the start of a planned series of actions. While commonly found in news and media, it also appears in business and scientific contexts, but is less suitable for informal communication. Alternatives like ""as an initial step"" or ""to begin with"" offer similar meanings with slight variations in formality. Remember to use it judiciously to maintain clarity and avoid overusing it in casual conversations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as an initial step

More formal and emphasizes the sequential nature of the action.

as a preliminary measure

More formal, suggesting caution and preparation.

as a starting point

Highlights the role of the action as a foundation for further development.

as an opening gambit

Implies a strategic and potentially risky initial action.

to begin with

A simpler and more direct way of indicating the beginning of a process.

in the first place

Emphasizes priority or order of importance.

for starters

Informal and conversational, suitable for casual contexts.

initially

A concise adverb indicating the commencement of an action.

to kick things off

Very informal and often used in a business or team setting.

in the beginning

A general way of indicating the start of something, less specific to strategic action.

FAQs

How can I use "as a first move" in a sentence?

You can use "as a first move" to introduce the initial action in a series of steps, for example, "As a first move, the company decided to analyze the market trends."

What are some alternatives to "as a first move"?

Alternatives include "as an initial step", "to begin with", or "initially", depending on the desired level of formality.

Is it redundant to say "as a first move"?

While not inherently redundant, consider if the "as a" adds value. In some cases, "first move" alone may suffice, but "as a first move" emphasizes the deliberate sequencing of actions.

What's the difference between "as a first move" and "firstly"?

"As a first move" suggests initiating an action, whereas "firstly" is simply an ordinal indicator used when listing points. The first implies a specific action, the second only denotes order.