first contact which

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "first contact which" is not correct in standard written English.
It is likely intended to introduce a clause but lacks clarity and proper structure. Example: "The first contact which we had was very enlightening."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

"I don't think we're racist … I honestly don't think we're racist in white Australia," he said during a TV interview to promote First Contact, which aired on SBS over three nights this week.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The second series of First Contact, which aired over three days this week, took six notable Australians – including Natalie Imbruglia, Tom Ballard and David Oldfield – out of their comfort zones and into contact with Indigenous Australia.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

And those optimistic assessments – wildly over-optimistic according to Better Together's judgment, were being amplified by upbeat analysis from Yes Scotland's in-house pollsters, a Canadian based company called First Contact which predicted by polling day that yes would win by 54% to 46% for no.

The Guardian

This was to result in the creation of the Borg Queen first seen in First Contact, which was played by Krige.

Wikipedia

The tribesmen also caught a respiratory disease after first contact, which can be a killer among isolated tribes that have never encountered the infections before, but have since been cured.

Vice

"Regeneration" was intended to follow up on the events depicted in film Star Trek: First Contact which features a Borg sphere being destroyed whilst in orbit of 21st century Earth.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

It provided a recording of the second contact, which it described as friendly and vague.

The Guardian

In June, The Hotline answered its four millionth contact, which is one of four million conversations that our advocates have had with victims and survivors of domestic violence in need over the last 20 years.

Huffington Post

They've now launched a website called First-contact, which is still in Alpha.

TechCrunch

That first physical contact, which is so crucial, was not possible due to conditions in the hospital.

UNICEF

Maximum variation sampling ensured participants were included from a range of first contact services, which limited bias; but the extent to which these findings are generalizable to other groups and locations is not known.

BMC Family Practice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, replace "first contact which" with alternatives like "the initial contact that" or "the first interaction that". This enhances readability and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Do not use "first contact which" as it is often grammatically awkward. Opt for clearer constructions using "that" or rephrasing the sentence to avoid the issue altogether.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "first contact which" attempts to function as a relative clause, modifying a noun phrase related to an initial interaction or encounter. However, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates that it is best replaced with grammatically clearer alternatives.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "first contact which" is often used in an attempt to introduce a relative clause describing an initial interaction, but it's considered grammatically awkward and incorrect. As Ludwig AI indicates, clearer alternatives are highly recommended. Common contexts include news reports, scientific studies, and wiki articles, but regardless of the setting, opting for phrases like "first contact that" or rephrasing the sentence to avoid the construction altogether will enhance clarity and grammatical accuracy. Therefore, while the concept is frequently discussed, the specific phrasing should be avoided in favor of more grammatically sound options.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

first contact that

Replaces "which" with "that" for a more direct relative clause.

initial contact that

Substitutes "first" with "initial" for a slight variation in emphasis, while using "that" instead of "which".

first interaction that

Replaces "contact" with "interaction" for a broader meaning, while using "that" instead of "which".

the first contact being

Transforms the phrase into a participial phrase, emphasizing the action of the first contact.

the contact that was first

Reorders the phrase to emphasize the contact and its initial nature using "that" instead of "which".

the preliminary contact that

Replaces "first" with "preliminary" for a more formal tone and uses "that" instead of "which".

the original contact that

Replaces "first" with "original" to emphasize the point of origin and uses "that" instead of "which".

the inaugural contact that

Uses "inaugural" for a more formal and impactful tone instead of "first" and uses "that" instead of "which".

the primary contact that

Substitutes "first" with "primary", highlighting the importance of the contact and uses "that" instead of "which".

the very first contact that

Adds emphasis using "very" to highlight the initial nature of the contact and uses "that" instead of "which".

FAQs

What is a grammatically correct alternative to "first contact which"?

You can use alternatives like "first contact that", "initial contact that", or rephrase the sentence to avoid the relative clause entirely.

How can I rephrase a sentence using "first contact which" to improve clarity?

Instead of saying "the first contact which was made", try "the initial contact that was made" or "the first point of contact". These alternatives offer better grammatical flow.

Is it better to use "that" or "which" after "first contact"?

In most cases, "that" is preferred after "first contact" when introducing a restrictive relative clause, making phrases like "first contact that" grammatically sound.

What are some common contexts where I might need to replace "first contact which"?

This phrase often appears in descriptions of healthcare access, historical events, or technological interactions. Replacing it with clearer alternatives improves the professionalism and readability of the writing.