click on the first link

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "click on the first link" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when instructing someone to select the first hyperlink in a list of search results or web pages. Example: "To find the information you need, click on the first link that appears in the search results."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

(A video on the group's Web site shows how quickly a dry tree ignites compared to a well-watered one. Go to nfpa.org, search for "Christmas tree fire," click on the first link on the next page and scroll halfway down).

The New York Times

If you click on the first link, you can go to the Seawater Greenhouse website – I would recommend contacting them directly for more information.

Columbia University

"Wikipedia trivia: if you take any article, click on the first link in the article text not in parentheses or italics, and then repeat, you will eventually end up at 'Philosophy'". Peter mused, "Now is that intentionally engineered into the system, or does it have to do with philosophy being a conceptual attractor to everything?" This is where Wikipedia-based procrastination got me again.

Stanford University

If you click on the first link, you'll get a full list of sites Adobe is featuring that take advantage of Flash 10.1.

TechCrunch

If you go into the dark web and click on the first link you find, it's going to be a phishing link.

Vice

If the user wants to learn more about the object, the user can click on the first link, "CSF3," which leads to a detail page presenting CSF3-related information).

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

LR: I just Googled "book deal," clicked on the first link that appeared, and signed up! Isn't that how it works for everybody?

Huffington Post

When a user clicks on the second link above, the first thing they'll see on YouTube is a popup asking them to subscribe to your channel.

Forbes

They clicked on the first link under Argentina and found a graffiti crew called Bagraff in Buenos Aires.

The New York Times - Tech

I clicked on the first link with trepidation: had I been idealistic about young people's film-making abilities?

The Guardian

Examples of such home page addresses include: "www.nytimes.com," "www.mtv.com," "www.randomhouse.com," "www.sony.com," "www.harrys-shoes.com," and "www.mercuryvehicles.com". Defendant himself agreed that after clicking on the first link listed on the home page, the "Foreword," a user would not ascertain the anti-abortion message until the middle of the second paragraph.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When instructing users, follow "click on the first link" with a brief description of what they should expect to find or do next. This sets expectations and improves user experience.

Common error

Don't assume users know what to do after they "click on the first link". Provide clear, concise instructions on the next steps to ensure they achieve their desired outcome.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "click on the first link" functions primarily as an imperative, directing the user to perform a specific action. Ludwig confirms its usability, showing its direct instruction within search results.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Wiki

41%

News & Media

32%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Science

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "click on the first link" serves as a straightforward instruction, frequently used in online guides, news articles, and academic materials. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability, noting its prevalence across various platforms. While generally neutral, it can lean towards informal contexts. For optimal user experience, supplement this instruction with clear explanations of the expected outcome. Remember to adjust wording for mobile users, considering "tap" instead of "click". By doing so, your instructions will improve user experience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Select the initial link

Focuses on selecting rather than clicking, using "initial" instead of "first".

Choose the top link

Uses "choose" and "top" as alternatives, implying the first option.

Navigate to the first URL

More technical, using "navigate" and specifying "URL".

Follow the first hyperlink

Uses the more formal term "hyperlink" instead of "link".

Access the first link

Emphasizes accessing the link, suggesting a broader action than just clicking.

Tap the first link

Specifically for touch-screen devices; implies a tapping action.

Go to the first link

Simplifies the instruction, using "go to" instead of "click on".

Open the first link

Specifies that the link should be opened, implying a new page or tab.

Visit the first link

Suggests navigating to and viewing the content of the first link.

Engage with the first link

Implies more interaction than simply clicking, such as reading or filling a form.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "click on the first link" for mobile users?

For mobile users, you might say "tap the first link" since mobile interactions usually involve tapping instead of clicking.

Is it better to say "click on the first link" or "select the first link"?

Both are acceptable, but "click on the first link" is more common when referring to hyperlinks on a webpage. "Select the first link" might be preferred in more formal or technical contexts.

What should I do if the first link is not the correct one?

If the first link is often incorrect, refine your search query to improve the relevance of the results or provide more specific instructions to guide users to the correct link, such as "click on the second link" instead.

How can I make instructions like "click on the first link" more accessible?

To improve accessibility, provide alternative text for screen readers and ensure the link text clearly describes the destination. Instead of only saying "click here", use descriptive text like "click on the first link to visit the registration page".