at the initial stage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'at the initial stage' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the beginning of a process or activity. For example, "At the initial stage, we had only a few pieces of information to work with."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

CH3NO and CH2O are critical intermediates at the initial stage.

Computational Materials Science

The sensor output was strongly correlated with the dissolution behavior at the initial stage of administration.

Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology

Most of the pollutant runoffs take place at the initial stage of the rainfall.

Journal of Hydrodynamics, Ser. B

At the initial stage, these biomasses are considered as low-value by products or waste.

Chemical Engineering Journal

At the initial stage, C4.5 is applied to a classification problem to generate a rule set.

Computers & Mathematics with Applications

The formulations released the drug rapidly at the initial stage, followed by a slow release.

Journal of Controlled Release

By controlling the sulfidation time, ZnS nuclei were formed at the initial stage of sulfidation.

Catalysis Today

Catalytic effect of carbon fibres at the initial stage of polymer degradation was observed.

Journal of Molecular Structure

In addition, RAC design requirements can also be developed at the initial stage of concrete demolition.

Journal of Hazardous Materials

Besides, the ferrite of Mo-free steel is deformed at the initial stage of plastic deformation.

Journal of Iron and Steel Research, International

At the initial stage, the level of glacial Lake Leine was approx. 110 m a.s.l.l

Sedimentary Geology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "at the initial stage", ensure the context clearly indicates a process or development that has distinct stages. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the description.

Common error

Avoid using "at the initial stage" when "initially" or "at first" would suffice. Redundancy can weaken your writing. Instead of saying "At the initial stage, the project was small", consider "Initially, the project was small."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at the initial stage" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase. It modifies a verb or clause by specifying when something occurs, indicating that an action, process, or state is situated at the beginning. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

78%

News & Media

10%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "at the initial stage" is a common and grammatically sound adverbial phrase used to specify the timing of events within a multi-stage process. As noted by Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct. It frequently appears in scientific and technical writing, but is also used in news and more general contexts. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure that the context clearly indicates a multi-stage process to avoid redundancy. Alternatives such as "in the beginning" or "initially" might be more suitable in certain situations. It is important to use "at the initial stage" to set the appropriate emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the early phase

This option replaces 'initial stage' with 'early phase', maintaining similar formality and meaning.

in the preliminary phase

Replaces "initial" with "preliminary", emphasizing preparatory nature.

at the outset

This alternative uses a more formal term, 'outset', to convey the start.

at the starting point

This option highlights the concept of a beginning as a 'starting point'.

in the beginning

This alternative focuses on the absolute start, omitting the nuance of a 'stage'.

at the inception

Uses a more formal and technical term, 'inception', for the very beginning.

at first

This is a simpler and more direct way of indicating something happened early on.

to begin with

This phrase focuses on the action of beginning, rather than a specific stage.

in its infancy

This alternative likens the start to a period of immaturity or early development.

at the dawn

This is a more metaphorical and evocative way of expressing the beginning.

FAQs

How can I use "at the initial stage" in a sentence?

You can use "at the initial stage" to describe the beginning of a process. For example, "At the initial stage of the project, we focused on planning and resource allocation."

What are some alternatives to "at the initial stage"?

You can use alternatives like "in the beginning", "in the early phase", or "at first" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use "at the initial stage" or "initially"?

While both are correct, "initially" is often more concise and direct. "At the initial stage" emphasizes that there are multiple stages, whereas "initially" simply means "at the beginning".

What's the difference between "at the initial stage" and "at the preliminary stage"?

"At the initial stage" refers to the very start of something. "At the preliminary stage" suggests a stage that is preparatory or comes before the main activity. The best choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.