at the first moment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at the first moment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the initial point in time when something occurs or is perceived. Example: "At the first moment I saw the painting, I was captivated by its beauty."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

e360: So we auction at the first moment where you have a carbon emitter?

Yale University

But then, at the first moment of tension, at deuce in the first game, it started.

The Guardian

At the first moment in Turkey, everyone spoke of how despicable and horrifying the attack was.

The Guardian

"I felt a little bit scared at the first moment, because I didn't' see what was going on," Nadal said.

The New York Times - Sports

At the first moment of the storm she got up and closed the door to the terrace, and when she turned back, the room had become dim.

The New Yorker

"That's why you need a working smoke alarm, so you know at the first moment to leave," said Lt. Anthony Mancuso, the Fire Department's director of fire-safety education.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

In the repeated batch process, we found no lag time for P solubilization at the first moments of each batch, indicating that the immobilized cells were metabolically active throughout the experiment.

AMB Express

Moment-closure means truncating this hierarchy (almost always at the second moment) by positing that the moments at a certain order are some function of the lower order moments.

Plosone

Solids 39 (1991) 45) makes use of the "secant" moduli of the phases, evaluated at the second moments of the strain field over the phases, and delivers bounds, but these bounds are only exact to first-order in the heterogeneity contrast.

Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids

At that first moment, the most powerful tool you have is your own charming personality.

WikiHow

Four patients died during CPFA, one before initiating the treatment, two at the very first moment and one after the first 0.09 L kg of plasma treated.

BMJ Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at the first moment" to emphasize immediacy or initial reaction, especially when describing emotional responses or critical actions taken immediately following an event. For instance, "At the first moment of the alarm, everyone evacuated the building".

Common error

Avoid using "at the first moment" interchangeably with "at first". While both refer to the beginning, "at the first moment" emphasizes a specific, immediate point in time, whereas "at first" refers to an initial period or impression. Saying "At first, I was hesitant" implies a period of hesitation, not a single, immediate reaction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at the first moment" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. It indicates when an action occurs, specifying that it happens immediately after something else. As confirmed by Ludwig, this expression is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at the first moment" is a correct and commonly used prepositional phrase employed to underscore the immediacy of an action or realization following a specific event. Ludwig confirms its usability and grammatical correctness. It finds frequent application in diverse contexts, including News & Media, Academia, and Science, affirming its versatility across various communication registers. When using this phrase, it's important to differentiate it from similar phrases like "at first", which denotes an initial period rather than a specific instant. Alternatives such as "initially" or "at the beginning" can be used to convey similar meanings, depending on the desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

initially

Single word that substitutes the whole phrase, indicating something happening at the beginning.

at the beginning

Replaces "first moment" with a more general term indicating commencement.

at the outset

A more formal synonym for "at the beginning".

in the beginning

Slightly more emphatic way of indicating something happening at the start.

at the start

A simpler, more direct way of expressing the initial phase.

at inception

Highlights the point where something starts to exist or operate.

from the get-go

An informal expression emphasizing the immediate start.

at the dawn

Metaphorical way of describing the commencement of something.

at the genesis

Emphasizes the creation or origin point.

in the embryonic stage

Highlights the initial, undeveloped state of something.

FAQs

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

Use "at the first moment" to describe an immediate reaction or action upon an initial observation or event. For example, "At the first moment, I knew something was wrong".

What can I say instead of "at the first moment"?

You can use alternatives like "initially", "at the beginning", or "at the outset" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "in the first moment" instead of "at the first moment"?

While "in the first moment" might be understood, "at the first moment" is the more idiomatic and grammatically standard choice for indicating an immediate reaction or occurrence.

What's the nuance between "at first" and "at the first moment"?

"At first" describes an initial period or impression, while "at the first moment" denotes a specific instant of reaction or realization. For example, "At first, I didn't like coffee, but I grew to love it" versus "At the first moment I tasted it, I found it bitter".