especially the first one

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "especially the first one" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize a particular item or example among a group, indicating that it holds special significance or importance. Example: "I enjoyed all the movies we watched, especially the first one, which had a captivating storyline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Temple says getting a Test, and especially the first one, is a boost for the city.

The Guardian

In the "Rings" that he directed and designed, especially the first one from the 1950's, Wotan was more like Zeus or Jupiter, shorn of horns and shaggy hides.

The New York Times

But for me at least, the murders and the murder victims – especially the first one – were given sufficient weight and the consequences enough attention to mark it out from the crowd.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

This time, he said, "with no incumbent and both candidates relatively moderate in relation to their parties, you get the feeling that nothing is locked in for the 10percentthatat drifts back and forth -- exactly the kind of race where the outcome could be affected by a dramatic event like the debates, especially the first one".

The New York Times

These two drawbacks (especially the first one) can be addressed to some extent by introducing some additional structure into the model.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

Brazile says the debates, especially the first one.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

We probably need to look at more recently evolved sex chromosome systems such as S. latifolia XY to obtain more data on the formation of strata, especially the first ones.

Genome Biology and Evolution

Now, since there has been a series of results in this direction,we refer to the introduction and bibliography in the most recent one [160] for some history of the problem and for more information concerning previous results, especially the first ones due to Jost and Zuo (for instance, [198, 229, 230, 231]) and other ones.

Bulletin of Mathematical Sciences

The basic tool is the neural network approach developed in the previous sections, especially the second one based on the structure-to-soil frequency ratio, PGA level and H/V amplitude.

Earth, Planets and Space

In those incidents in Johannesburg, especially the second one, I had time to think about the imminent end of my life.

The Guardian - Sport

We were calm, never lost composure or the football idea and after that we had a fantastic 25 minutes with three goals, especially the second one – a fantastic goal.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "especially the first one" to emphasize the importance of an initial item, event, or example in a sequence. This highlights its significance compared to others.

Common error

Avoid using "especially the first one" when the list is very short or the first item isn't genuinely more important. Overusing the phrase can weaken its impact and make your writing sound repetitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "especially the first one" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a preceding clause by adding emphasis to a specific element within a group or series. It highlights the initial item as particularly significant or noteworthy. Ludwig shows its use in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

32%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "especially the first one" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adverbial phrase employed to emphasize the significance of an initial item in a sequence. As verified by Ludwig, its function is to highlight the primary importance of the starting point. While versatile, it is important to avoid overuse in situations where the emphasis is unwarranted. Alternatives include "particularly the initial one" and "primarily the first instance". Usage is frequent across News & Media and Science, reflecting its utility in various writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

particularly the initial one

Replaces "especially" with "particularly" and "first" with "initial", offering a slightly more formal tone.

primarily the first instance

Substitutes "especially" with "primarily" and "one" with "instance", emphasizing the beginning occurrence.

notably the first item

Replaces "especially" with "notably" and "one" with "item", highlighting a specific element in a series.

mainly the first case

Substitutes "especially" with "mainly" and "one" with "case", focusing on the initial situation.

chiefly the first example

Replaces "especially" with "chiefly" and "one" with "example", indicating the foremost illustration.

above all the first choice

Uses "above all" to replace "especially", stressing the supreme importance of the first option.

in particular the first element

Uses "in particular" instead of "especially", focusing on a specific component.

most of all the first aspect

Emphasizes the significance of the initial aspect, replacing "especially" with "most of all".

significantly the first occasion

Highlights the initial event, substituting "especially" with "significantly".

predominantly the first type

Focuses on the initial category or kind, replacing "especially" with "predominantly".

FAQs

How can I use "especially the first one" in a sentence?

Use "especially the first one" to emphasize the primary importance of an initial item, event, or example within a sequence. For instance, "I enjoyed the books, "especially the first one", which set the stage for the entire series".

What phrases are similar to "especially the first one"?

You can use alternatives such as "particularly the initial one", "primarily the first instance", or "notably the first item" to convey a similar emphasis.

Is it correct to say "in particular the first one" instead of "especially the first one"?

Yes, "in particular the first one" is a valid alternative. While both are grammatically sound, ""especially the first one"" is typically more concise and commonly used.

When should I avoid using "especially the first one"?

Avoid using ""especially the first one"" when the context doesn't clearly warrant emphasizing the first item over others or when the list being referenced is extremely short. In those scenarios, the emphasis may sound unnatural.