at first however

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at first however" is not correct as it combines two contrasting ideas without proper punctuation or conjunction.
You can use "at first" to introduce an initial situation or feeling, and "however" to present a contrast, but they should be separated appropriately. Example: "At first, I was hesitant; however, I soon realized it was the right decision."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

At first, however, it was a shambles.

The Economist

At first, however, Mr. Caras's timing was way off.

The New York Times - Arts

At first, however, it was largely confined to Wall Street.

The New York Times

At first, however, Ms. Ong's reports were greeted skeptically by some officials on the ground.

The New York Times

At first, however, the Russian Revolution was simply a sensational item of world news.

The Guardian - Books

At first, however, the soldiers had other things to occupy them.

Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

Better coordinate with him first, however, at [phone].

Los Angeles Times

Goya saw the war at first hand, however many liberties he took in his images.

The Guardian - Arts

At first viewing, however, they don't add up to a compelling structure.

The New York Times - Arts

At first glance, however, it would be hard to tell which room is which.

The New York Times - Books

The variable pregnancy rate at first AI, however, yielded heterogeneous results among studies.

Theriogenology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To correctly express a contrast after stating an initial condition, use ", however," or ", but" after the initial clause. For instance, "At first, I was skeptical; however, I soon changed my mind."

Common error

Don't combine "at first" directly with "however" without proper punctuation. This creates a grammatically awkward phrase. Always separate the initial statement from the contrasting statement with a semicolon or period.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at first however" attempts to connect an initial state with a contrasting one, functioning as an ill-formed adverbial connector. As Ludwig AI points out, it's grammatically incorrect due to the improper combination of two contrasting elements without proper punctuation or conjunction.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

27%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Wiki

12%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "at first however" appears across various sources, Ludwig AI correctly identifies it as grammatically incorrect. It improperly combines "at first", which introduces an initial state, with "however", which signals a contrast, without proper punctuation. To convey a contrasting idea after stating an initial condition, use ", however," or ", but" after the initial clause. For example, "At first, I was skeptical; however, I soon changed my mind." Correct alternatives include "initially, but then", "at the beginning, yet", and "originally, however". Despite its common occurrence, especially in news and media contexts, avoiding this phrasing will enhance clarity and grammatical correctness in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

initially, but then

Replaces "at first however" with a more grammatically sound structure indicating a change or contrast.

at the beginning, yet

Emphasizes the initial state and then contrasts it with a subsequent condition or event.

initially, nevertheless

Similar to "at first however" but provides a more formal and correct transition to the contrasting point.

at first, on the other hand

Clearly separates the initial situation from the contrasting one, improving clarity and grammar.

originally, however

Highlights the original state of affairs before introducing a contrast.

at the outset, but

Similar to "at first however" but replaces "at first" with "at the outset" and "however" with "but".

in the beginning, yet

More conversational than "at first however" but grammatically correct.

initially, in contrast

Directly indicates a contrast to the initial situation.

at the start, yet

Replaces "at first however" with a more simple structure.

at first, conversely

Emphasizes that the second situation is the opposite of the first

FAQs

How can I properly use "at first" to introduce a contrasting idea?

To introduce a contrasting idea after using "at first", use a semicolon or a period followed by "however". For example, "At first, I was nervous; however, the experience turned out to be enjoyable".

What's a grammatically correct alternative to "at first however"?

Alternatives include "initially, but then", "at the beginning, yet", or "originally, however".

Is it wrong to use "at first however" in writing?

Yes, it's grammatically incorrect. It combines two contrasting elements without proper separation. It's better to use a semicolon or a period to separate the initial statement from the contrasting one introduced by "however".

How does "at first" differ in usage from "however"?

"At first" introduces an initial situation or feeling, while "however" introduces a contrasting or opposing idea. They should be used in separate clauses, with appropriate punctuation between them.