at the first encounter

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at the first encounter" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the initial meeting or interaction between two parties or individuals. Example: "At the first encounter, I was struck by her confidence and poise."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

The combination of recognition (respect and remembering) with interpersonal continuity generated an added value in the interpersonal doctor-patient relationship that could not be generated at the first encounter.

BMC Family Practice

At the first encounter, Mr. Yano -- suspended horizontally -- calmly circumambulates Mr. James's midriff.

The New York Times - Arts

While most participants did not experience difficulties with the crossing being turned back to a passive crossing, a number of participants experienced difficulties stopping in time at the first encounter of such passive crossing.

Procedia Manufacturing

But they not minding what he said, but slighting him as a hare-brained fellow (as indeed he was not yet of any repute sufficient to give credit to a proposal of such importance), he charged with his own citizens, at the first encounter disordered, and soon after put the troops to flight with great slaughter.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

She was one of those students you learned to pick out at the first encounter as a potential flash point, someone who might easily be offended, or offend others; you treated such students with special consideration, but kept them at arm's length.

The New Yorker

After accepting the assignment and hearing that the president had asked to meet him again in person (the two met briefly during one of Mr. Obama's visits with wounded troops at Walter Reed, Joaoo realized that he had the opportunity to do something he did not manage to do at the first encounter.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

The requirement for at least two outpatient encounters protected against inclusion of youth who were misdiagnosed at the first encounter and were later determined not to have diabetes (17).

Diabetes Care

At home, the first encounter with a CD seemed revelatory.

The New York Times - Arts

Second, both replications (RP1 and RP2) terminated at OH1; after originating from OH1, RP1 did not terminate at the first encountered OH (OH2).

BMC Genomics

According to a Chinese tale, a 12-course lunch featuring duck from Quan Jude helped put Kissinger and fellow Americans at ease during the first encounter with Chinese leaders at the colossal Great Hall of the People.

Los Angeles Times

Our results exemplify the complex interactions at play during the first encounter between the host, expressing multiple pattern recognition receptors, and an intact pathogen, expressing multiple virulence factors and pathogen-associated molecular patterns.

Cellular Microbiology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a series of interactions, use "at the first encounter" to specifically highlight the initial interaction, setting it apart from subsequent ones. For example: "At the first encounter, the patient presented with mild symptoms; during the follow-up visits, the symptoms worsened significantly."

Common error

Avoid using "at the first encounter" to describe events or situations that aren't related to meetings or interactions between people. It's best suited for scenarios where there's a direct exchange or meeting involved. Using "initially" or "at the beginning" might be more appropriate in other cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at the first encounter" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun, indicating the timing or setting of an event. Ludwig provides several examples illustrating this function. For example, "The overall pattern of recognition versus humiliation was most obvious at the first encounter."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

32%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "at the first encounter" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression for describing events that occur during an initial meeting or interaction. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase sees frequent use in scientific, news, and academic domains. To ensure proper usage, it's important to use this phrase in the context of meetings or direct interactions and to consider it as neutral to slightly formal. Alternatives include "upon initial meeting" and "during the first meeting". By understanding its function and typical contexts, writers can effectively use "at the first encounter" to add precision to their descriptions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

upon initial meeting

Replaces the preposition "at" and uses "initial" instead of "first".

during the first meeting

Uses "during" to indicate the time frame and "meeting" instead of "encounter".

in the initial interaction

Focuses on the "interaction" aspect of the meeting.

at the outset

More formal, referring to the beginning of something.

from the very beginning

Emphasizes the starting point.

on the first occasion

Uses "occasion" to refer to the event.

when first introduced

Highlights the introduction aspect.

at the start

A shorter, more general term.

initially

An adverb describing something that happens at the beginning.

at the get-go

An informal idiom meaning "from the beginning".

FAQs

How can I use "at the first encounter" in a sentence?

Use "at the first encounter" to describe something that happened during an initial meeting or interaction. For example, "At the first encounter, I was impressed by their professionalism".

What are some alternatives to "at the first encounter"?

You can use alternatives such as "upon initial meeting", "during the first meeting", or "in the initial interaction" depending on the context.

Is "at the first encounter" formal or informal?

"At the first encounter" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. More informal alternatives could include "at the get-go" or "initially".

When is it appropriate to use "at the first encounter" instead of "initially"?

"At the first encounter" is best used when describing a specific meeting or interaction between people, while "initially" can be used in a broader range of contexts to describe something that happened at the beginning.