as a first pass

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as a first pass" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate an initial attempt or preliminary evaluation of something before further refinement or analysis. Example: "Let's review the data as a first pass to identify any obvious trends before diving deeper into the analysis."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

But as a first pass, let's make a familiar distinction between investment by households, the government and firms.

The Economist

So just as a first pass, we put a subject in the MEG scanner and showed them these 25 scene images.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

To assess high temperature components for creep fatigue damage for example, under faster ramp rates and additional cycles, as a first pass it would be useful to explore the feasible operational envelope using simplified calculations.

International Journal of Fatigue

We also suggest that future surveys focus on sequencing homozygous haplotype segments as a first pass to achieve a 50% reduction in cost with an added benefit of phasing variant calls efficiently.

Journal of Dairy Science

So the meeting at least as a first pass at the issue is a complete waste.Third, he meets an extremely talented Japanese woman at a dinner party who asks whether the association is looking to hire staff.

The Economist

I also apply a similar strategy as a first pass for my fine-mesh strainer, submerging the basket part in a bowl of soapy water so that the mess floats to the top, making it easy to pour off.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

Many people start ordering a lifetime supply of wine or Bloody Marys as soon as the flight attendants make a first pass.

WikiHow

Reverberation is handled as a second pass through a reverb instrument (nrev.ins for example).

Stanford University

Rescoring via more accurate models, as a second pass of the STT system, has been widely used to further improve the performance.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

Urine was collected as a second pass, fasting specimen and frozen at −80 °C until analysis.

Breast Cancer Research and Treatment

Applying the model assuming HWE as a second pass should not cause substantial problems even if the true genotype frequencies do not conform to HWE.

Bioinformatics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as a first pass" when you want to indicate that you are performing a preliminary analysis or taking an initial approach to a problem. This signals that further, more detailed work may be necessary.

Common error

Avoid using "as a first pass" when you've already conducted a comprehensive analysis. This phrase implies a quick, initial look, so it's misleading if the work was exhaustive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as a first pass" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate that an action is performed as a preliminary or initial step. Ludwig AI confirms its usage across diverse contexts, suggesting its versatility.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Academia

30%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as a first pass" is a useful phrase to indicate a preliminary analysis or initial attempt. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various fields, including science, news, and academia. While its register is generally neutral, leaning towards professional, consider more formal alternatives for highly formal contexts. Remember to use "as a first pass" when you want to signal that more detailed work may follow and avoid using it if you've already conducted a comprehensive analysis. Its communicative purpose is to set expectations and provide a preliminary overview.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as an initial assessment

Replaces "first pass" with "initial assessment" maintaining a similar level of formality.

as a preliminary step

Substitutes "first pass" with "preliminary step", focusing on the action as an early stage in a process.

as a starting point

Indicates the beginning of an investigation or process, replacing "first pass" with a more general term.

in the first instance

A more formal way of saying "at first", suitable for formal or scientific writing.

initially

A simple adverb indicating the beginning of an action or process.

as a trial run

Implies an experimental or test phase before a final implementation.

as a basic check

Focuses on verifying fundamental aspects in the initial stage.

at the outset

Highlights the very beginning of a project or task.

for a quick review

Emphasizes speed and efficiency in the initial evaluation.

as an exploratory measure

Suggests investigating possibilities without firm commitment.

FAQs

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

You can use "as a first pass" to describe an initial analysis or attempt, suggesting that further, more detailed work might be needed. For example, "As a first pass, let's review the budget to identify potential areas for cost reduction."

What's a good alternative to "as a first pass"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "as an initial assessment", "as a preliminary step", or "as a starting point".

Is "as a first pass" formal or informal?

"As a first pass" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in various contexts, including formal and informal settings. However, for highly formal writing, you might consider alternatives like "in the first instance".

When is it appropriate to use "as a first pass"?

It's appropriate to use "as a first pass" when you want to convey that you're providing a preliminary overview or analysis, indicating that more detailed work might follow. It's useful when you're setting expectations about the depth of the current effort.