first and better

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "first and better" is not correct in standard written English.
It is not a commonly used expression and may confuse readers due to its awkward construction. Example: "In this competition, we aim to be first and better than our rivals."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Landing a punch first and better is wrong, but hitting back is strongly encouraged.

The Guardian - Sport

That's what Bresson was aiming for in the first, and better, half of his career.

The New York Times

Socially, he said, he was "shy at first" and "better in small groups".

The Guardian

The first, and better known, was the Cuban missile crisis of 1962.

The New York Times

Their uni gym may be the best and cheapest option, or there are chains like Virgin Active, Fitness First and Better leisure centres.

The Guardian

"Boulevard," however, seems to be cultivating amnesia about its esteemed predecessor, even as it revisits the same cautionary tales that VH1 exploited first and better.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

A third;and better;alternative?

Forbes

The first and better-known episode from 2009 was the battle over the "public option" -- a proposal, crafted by Yale political scientist Jacob Hacker, to create a government-run insurance plan that would compete with private insurers for customers.

Huffington Post

Now my daughters pretend that their Elsa doll plays with a package of Shopkins, giving both toys a second, and better, life.

The New York Times - Health

The result is a replicable, thoughtful approach to finding a "third and better way" to make important choices in the face of unacceptable trade‐offs.

Harvard Business Review

A second, and better, system of graphical two-dimensional syntax followed: the so-called "existential graphs".

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a two-stage process involving an initial step followed by improvement, clarify the connection using words such as 'subsequently', 'later', or 'eventually' to enhance the structure.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "first and better" when a more standard expression would improve clarity. The phrase can sound unnatural and detract from the intended meaning. Choose a more idiomatic expression to ensure that your writing is both clear and grammatically correct.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "first and better" functions as a conjunction phrase aiming to combine the concepts of priority and superiority. However, it's not grammatically standard, as noted by Ludwig. Examples in Ludwig often use it to describe phases or halves of something.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

36%

Academia

21%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "first and better" attempts to combine the notions of primacy and superiority, yet it often results in grammatically awkward constructions. As Ludwig points out, this phrase isn't standard English and might confuse readers. While it appears across diverse sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, suggesting some level of usage, more precise alternatives such as "first and foremost" or "initially and superior" often provide clearer and more impactful communication. In essence, while "first and better" conveys the intent, selecting more conventional phrasing will enhance clarity and grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

first and foremost

Emphasizes priority and importance.

first and superior

Emphasizes the leading position and enhanced quality.

initially and superior

Focuses on the starting point and a higher quality.

in the first place and more advanced

Highlights the initial position and the advanced quality.

originally and enhanced

Refers to the original state and subsequent improvement.

primarily and improved

Highlights initial action followed by enhancement.

initially and more polished

Refers to the initial state and the more refined quality.

to begin with and upgraded

Highlights the start and the enhanced version.

to start with and well-developed

Focuses on the beginning and the high level of development.

at the start and refined

Emphasizes the beginning and the refined quality.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "first and better" to sound more natural?

Consider using phrases like "first and foremost" or "primarily and improved" depending on the context.

Is "first and better" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "first and better" is not a standard grammatical construction in English. It can be interpreted as awkward or unconventional.

What's a stronger alternative to "first and better" for emphasizing priority?

A stronger alternative is "first and foremost", which is a common and accepted way to stress the importance of something.

In what contexts might someone use "first and better"?

Although not ideal, someone might use "first and better" when trying to emphasize both the initial position and the superior quality achieved. However, clearer alternatives exist for such situations.