first and rather

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "first and rather" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to introduce a point or idea, but the combination of "first" and "rather" is awkward and unclear without additional context. Example: "First and rather, we need to address the budget concerns before moving forward."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

He searched for the philosophical foundation of what he first and rather vaguely summarized as the "sciences of man, of society, and the state," which he later called Geisteswissenschaften ("human sciences")—a term that eventually gained general recognition to collectively denote the fields of history, philosophy, religion, psychology, art, literature, law, politics, and economics.

Encyclopedia Britannica

First, and rather obviously, I blame Aron.

Huffington Post

Upon its release, Rolling Stone magazine's review was unfavourable, writing that it is "not as interesting as their first" and "rather mediocre", highlighting the near-departure of Syd Barrett as one of its detractions.

Wikipedia

First, and rather early, falsely predicted protein-coding genes are eliminated from the original annotation using composition-based methods.

DNA Research

In 1998, UNICEF made the first and rather successful attempt at training Deputy Heads of Kyiv and Odessa City Administrations, focusing on harmful habits prevention among youth.

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

But a study just published in Animal Cognition, by Volker Deecke of the University of St Andrews, in Britain, has added a fifth and rather surprising one.

The Economist

They're also known as the Deterrent Battalion and they are now involved in a second and rather more chilling clean-up operation.

The Guardian

The Coen brothers' excellent western True Grit is a second and rather different version of Charles Portis's novel, rather than a remake of the 1969 film that brought John Wayne an Oscar as the one-eyed bounty hunter Marshal Rooster Cogburn.

The Guardian - Film

Third, and rather less obviously, the formal parties of the left – Labour, Lib Dems and Greens – have long since become bored by economics, forgetting that any winning platform must include a challenging recipe for creating prosperity.

The Guardian - Opinion

A second and rather different approach to modifying (CA) has been taken in recent work by Christopher Peacocke.

SEP

"Second half, they showed their youthfulness in the final third, and rather than killing the game off in the first 15 minutes, we let them back into it.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity and better grammar, replace "first and rather" with more standard phrases like "first and foremost" or "initially and somewhat" depending on the intended meaning. This improves readability and ensures your writing is grammatically sound.

Common error

Avoid using "first and rather" as it creates an awkward and unclear sentence structure. This can confuse readers and detract from the overall impact of your message. Opt for clearer alternatives to maintain professionalism and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "first and rather" functions as a conjunction intended to introduce a point or idea, but its construction is grammatically awkward. It attempts to combine the emphasis of 'first' with a qualifier, as illustrated by Ludwig, yet it lacks conventional usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

20%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

20%

Wiki

20%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "first and rather" is grammatically awkward and not recommended for use in formal writing. As highlighted by Ludwig, its intended meaning might be to emphasize an initial point with a slight qualification, but clearer alternatives like "first and foremost" or "initially and somewhat" are generally more appropriate. Its infrequency and potential for confusion make it a less desirable choice in most writing contexts. While some sources might use it, adopting clearer phrasing will enhance your writing's overall impact and professionalism.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

first and foremost

Emphasizes priority and importance, making it a stronger and more conventional alternative.

initially and somewhat

Focuses on the starting point and a degree of modification or qualification.

first but also

Highlights that the initial point is followed by another significant aspect.

first and quite

Adds a degree of emphasis or surprise to the initial point.

first and instead

Indicates a preference or substitution of one point over another.

primarily and reasonably

Highlights the main aspect and a balanced or justifiable perspective.

first and on the contrary

Introduces a contrasting or opposing point after the initial statement.

first and comparatively

Sets up a comparison following the initial point.

first and to some extent

Acknowledges a partial or limited agreement with the initial point.

first and correspondingly

Indicates a relationship or parallel between the initial point and what follows.

FAQs

What does "first and rather" mean?

The phrase "first and rather" is not a standard or commonly used expression in English. Its intended meaning can be unclear without additional context, potentially causing confusion for the reader.

How can I rewrite a sentence containing "first and rather" to improve clarity?

You can replace "first and rather" with alternatives like "first and foremost", "initially and somewhat", or "primarily and reasonably", depending on the intended nuance.

Is "first and rather" grammatically correct?

No, "first and rather" is not grammatically correct in most contexts. It's best to use more conventional and grammatically sound alternatives to ensure clarity and professionalism in your writing.

What is a more formal way to say "first and rather"?

A more formal alternative to "first and rather" would be "first and foremost" or "primarily and in addition", which are better suited for professional or academic writing.