at first later on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at first later on" is not correct and usable in written English.
It seems to combine two separate time references that are contradictory, making it unclear when the events are supposed to occur. Example: "At first, I was hesitant about the project, but later on, I became more confident in my abilities."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

It won't take a slice at first, but later on will pick up up to 50 basis points — 0.5percentt — of profits.

TechCrunch

But the Capitals tied it at 1-1 just 22 seconds later on a goal by Esa Tikkanen.

The New York Times - Sports

The local hospital in Moncton tweeted at 9 27 p.m that they had received two patients with gunshot wounds, and a third later on at 10 56 p.m.

Vice

After Colorado's Eric Messier went off for high-sticking John Madden at 9 22, the Devils scored 11 seconds later on a power play.

The New York Times - Sports

The first phase corresponds to the first handover between cells (poor channel quality conditions) at time instants around 65 seconds, whose consequences are observed some seconds later on.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

"She was reluctant at first, but later on it got hot and heavy".

The New York Times

"This may sound crazy at first, but later on you may want to do this if the price of your card drops dramatically".

The Guardian - Tech

But Mr. Khudari has six children, ages 6 to 18. "I was hesitating at first, but later on I decided to rejoin the service," he said.

The New York Times

I went down there and found her – I mean, I didn't know it was her at first, but later on they proved it from the DNA.

The Guardian - Books

Making a statement by chopping nearly all your hair off may seem cool at first, but later on you'll be begging it to grow.

WikiHow

It may be awkward at first, but later on in the night you will begin to meet the other teens and form your groups of friends.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "at first later on" in formal writing. Instead, choose clearer and more grammatically correct alternatives like "initially, then subsequently" or "at first, but later". Ensure smooth transitions by using appropriate conjunctions to connect the two parts of your sentence.

Common error

Don't combine "at first" and "later on" in the same phrase as it creates redundancy and grammatical awkwardness. Select one expression to indicate the initial state and another to indicate the subsequent state or change.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at first later on" is grammatically incorrect, functioning as an attempted adverbial modifier. Ludwig AI flags it as incorrect, advising against its use due to redundancy and lack of standard English grammar. It aims to indicate a sequence but fails to do so correctly.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "at first later on" is identified as grammatically incorrect by Ludwig. It attempts to combine temporal markers in a redundant manner. Correct usage involves separating these concepts, such as "at first, but later" or using alternative phrases like "initially then subsequently". Always aim for clarity and grammatical accuracy, particularly in formal writing, to avoid confusion and maintain credibility. As Ludwig AI suggests, this phrase should be avoided.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

initially then subsequently

Replaces "at first" with "initially" and "later on" with "subsequently", providing a more formal tone.

at the beginning afterwards

Uses "at the beginning" in place of "at first" and "afterwards" instead of "later on", offering a clearer temporal sequence.

in the beginning later

A simpler substitution, replacing "at first" with "in the beginning" while keeping "later" for the second part of the sequence.

at first subsequently

Keeps "at first" but changes "later on" to "subsequently", which is a more formal synonym.

originally eventually

Replaces "at first" with "originally" and "later on" with "eventually", indicating a final outcome after an initial state.

initially down the line

Uses "initially" instead of "at first" and replaces "later on" with the idiomatic "down the line."

to begin with later

Substitutes "at first" with "to begin with", maintaining "later" for the subsequent event.

at the outset afterwards

Employs "at the outset" instead of "at first" and "afterwards" instead of "later on", suitable for formal contexts.

firstly subsequently

Replaces "at first" with "firstly" and "later on" with "subsequently", providing a structured and formal alternative.

at the start then later

Uses "at the start" for "at first" and retains "later" for the subsequent action or state.

FAQs

Is "at first later on" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "at first later on" is redundant and grammatically incorrect. It combines two expressions that indicate a sequence of events, making the sentence awkward and unclear. Use either "at first" followed by "but later" or alternative expressions like /s/"initially subsequently".

What can I say instead of "at first later on"?

You can use alternatives like "initially then subsequently", "at the beginning afterwards", or "in the beginning later" depending on the context. These options provide clearer and more grammatically sound ways to express a sequence of events.

How to use "at first" and "later on" correctly in a sentence?

Use "at first" to describe an initial state or action, and then use "but later" or "subsequently" to introduce a change or subsequent event. For example, "At first, I was hesitant about the project, but later I became more confident in my abilities."

What's the difference between "at first" and "later on"?

"At first" indicates the initial stage or beginning of something, while "later on" indicates a subsequent point in time. They should be used in separate clauses or phrases to describe a progression or change, not combined into a single phrase like "at first later on".