as an initial step

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as an initial step" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the first action or measure taken in a process or plan. Example: "As an initial step, we will conduct a survey to gather feedback from our customers."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Two years ago, as an initial step, we created a multicultural initiative focused on starting a dialogue with the Latino community in the United States.

Huffington Post

Microsoft describes Windows Me as "an initial step towards delivering on Microsoft's vision for home users".

The New York Times - Tech

But the agency's Democratic commissioners defended the rule as an initial step toward safer customers and better markets.

The New York Times

"You can consider this as an initial step in the formation of the police force in Afghanistan," a senior government official said today.

The New York Times

As an initial step in June, the United Nations mission presented a report to Iraq's Presidency Council on four areas: Akra, Hamdaniya, Mahmour and Mandali.

The New York Times

The Charge proposed that as an initial step, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Defense Ministry staff observe the training of Georgian troops headed to Afghanistan by U.S. Marines.

The Guardian

Jean Afterman, their assistant general manager, traveled there in August as an initial step in forging a working agreement between the Yankees and the Giants.

The New York Times - Sports

US Airways said on Wednesday that it was cutting 13percentt of its 1,550 daily mainline flights as an initial step in its restructuring.

The New York Times

As an initial step, building a Post Bank around an existing 100% publicly owned bank, Northern Rock, is a logical and brave step.

The Guardian - Opinion

The designations made public on Tuesday were characterized as an initial step in putting states on notice that they may have to submit more pollution control plans.

The New York Times

The deterministic programs work as an initial step.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as an initial step" to clearly signal the commencement of a series of actions or a process. It provides clarity and sets expectations for subsequent steps.

Common error

Avoid phrases like "as a very initial step" as the adjective 'initial' already implies the beginning. Using 'very' is redundant and weakens the impact of your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as an initial step" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying the verb in the main clause by indicating the beginning stage of an action or process. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability and wide usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as an initial step" is a widely used phrase to indicate the commencement of a process or action. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically sound and frequently appears in diverse contexts, particularly within scientific literature and news articles. When writing, use "as an initial step" to provide clarity and signal the start of a sequence. To avoid redundancy, be mindful of using superfluous qualifiers. Consider alternatives such as "as a first step" or "to begin with" for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as a first step

Replaces "initial" with "first", emphasizing the order of action.

as a starting point

Shifts focus from a step to a point of commencement.

to begin with

More conversational, implying a sequence of actions.

as a preliminary measure

Highlights the preparatory nature of the action.

at the outset

More formal, indicating the very beginning.

initially

A single-word adverb, concise and direct.

in the beginning

Emphasizes the commencement in a more literal sense.

to start off

Informal, suggesting a casual beginning.

as an early stage

Focuses on the phase rather than the action itself.

as a ground work

Focuses on the beginning as a foundation for something else.

FAQs

How can I use "as an initial step" in a sentence?

You can use "as an initial step" to introduce the first action taken in a process. For example, "As an initial step, we will conduct a thorough assessment of the current situation".

What are some alternatives to "as an initial step"?

You can use alternatives like "as a first step", "to begin with", or "as a starting point" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "as an initial step" and "as a first step"?

While similar, "as an initial step" emphasizes the beginning of a process, while "as a first step" simply highlights the order of actions. The difference is subtle and often negligible.

When is it appropriate to use "as an initial step" in formal writing?

"As an initial step" is suitable for formal writing when you need to clearly indicate the commencement of a series of actions or procedures. It's common in reports, proposals, and academic papers.