at a first glance

USAGE SUMMARY

'at a first glance' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a quick impression made upon seeing or observing something. Example sentence: At a first glance, the painting appeared to be a masterpiece.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At a first glance, the product development processes of various products are distinctly different.

Chemical Engineering Research and Design

However, at a first glance the bow shapes of modern ice breaking vessels seem to be quite similar.

Ocean Engineering

At a first glance, it is difficult to say why it should be so compelling.

The New York Times - Arts

Interestingly, "forceful" appears here too, which at a first glance might seem surprising.

Harvard Business Review

At a first glance, ethanol, toluene and methyl tert-butyl ether look nothing alike with respect to their molecular structures.

Progress in Energy and Combustion Science

At a first glance low cost automation could be regarded as cheap hardware (sensors, actuators and controller).

IFAC Proceedings Volumes

At a first glance, blacks would seem to be ripe for conversion to Republicanism.

The New York Times

At a first glance, the area of the garden seems small - but it demands a great deal of maintenance!

Yale University

At a first glance, our galaxy appears to be made of stars separated by vast and empty space.

Stanford University

At a first glance it looks as if earthquake foci line up along this zone like pearls on a string.

University of California, Berkeley

While the reason for this might not be obvious at a first glance, it is compelling upon further reflection.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at a first glance" to introduce a preliminary assessment that may be subject to change upon closer inspection. This sets the stage for a more nuanced analysis.

Common error

Avoid presenting your "at a first glance" assessment as the definitive truth. Always indicate that further investigation may be needed to form a complete understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at a first glance" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the timing and perspective of an initial observation or judgment. As Ludwig AI explains, it sets the stage for further analysis.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at a first glance" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to introduce an initial impression or assessment. It's grammatically correct, widely used, and appropriate for various contexts, including formal writing. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase serves to preface a preliminary observation, suggesting that further analysis may be required. Remember to avoid presenting your first glance as the final word and be mindful of the nuances when choosing alternatives like "initially" or "at first sight".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at first sight

This phrase focuses specifically on the visual aspect of the initial impression, rather than a more general assessment.

at first blush

Similar to "at first sight", this implies a quick, initial assessment, often with a slightly more emotional or intuitive connotation.

on the face of it

This idiom suggests a situation appears a certain way based on initial observation, but further examination might reveal something different.

upon initial inspection

This phrase suggests a more careful or formal examination than a simple glance.

from a superficial observation

This highlights the lack of depth in the initial assessment.

initially

This is a single-word adverb that conveys the idea of a first impression, omitting the visual aspect.

prima facie

This legal term describes something accepted as correct until proven otherwise, suggesting an initial acceptance of evidence.

to the untrained eye

This emphasizes that the initial impression might be different for someone with expertise.

superficially

This suggests a lack of thoroughness in the assessment.

in the beginning

This phrase denotes a chronological sequence, while QUERY indicates an immediate assessment.

FAQs

How can I use "at a first glance" in a sentence?

You can use "at a first glance" to introduce an initial impression or assessment, implying that further scrutiny may reveal more. For example, "At a first glance, the problem seemed simple, but it turned out to be quite complex."

What's a good alternative to "at a first glance"?

Alternatives include "initially", "on the face of it", or "at first sight". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it okay to use "at first glance" in formal writing?

Yes, "at a first glance" is appropriate for formal writing. It's a common and well-understood idiom that adds a level of nuance to your observations.

What's the difference between "at a first glance" and "at first sight"?

"At a first glance" refers to a general initial impression, while "at first sight" usually refers to an immediate visual impression or attraction. "At a first glance" is broader and can apply to situations beyond just visual observations.