first day of work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "first day of work" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to the initial day a person works at a new job or position. For example, "Today is my first day of work at the new accounting firm."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Sample 1 was collected in the morning of the first day of work (after 2 days off work) before the beginning of any work activity.

Environmental Health Perspectives

The median time from first day of work to symptom onset was 105 (range 10 638) days; 10 (23%) patients reported symptom onset <2 months after beginning work.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

I was looking forward to my first day of work.

The Guardian

It was Jake Gyllenhaal's first day of work on End of Watch when the murder happened.

The Guardian - Film

Gourevitch arrived for his first day of work and found a bear waiting for him.

The New Yorker

On her first day of work, she read about the UJA-Federation's involvement with the fund.

The New York Times

Then El Duque was finally ready for his first day of work.

The New York Times - Sports

My first day of work was gray and windy, and few people were out.

The New Yorker

When Hayley finally showed up for her first day of work, she wore a crop top.

The New Yorker

He spotted Michele Ramirez on her first day of work there and immediately declared he would marry her.

The New York Times

Anticipating their first day of work together, Gruden gruffly told Payton, "Well, we start watching film here at 6 a.m".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "for" when describing preparation or anticipation, such as "I am nervous for my "first day of work"."

Common error

Avoid using "first working day" when you mean your personal start date. A "working day" usually refers to any day from Monday to Friday in a business context, whereas ""first day of work"" specifically refers to an individual's initial day at a new job.

Linguistic Context

In linguistic terms, ""first day of work"" is a noun phrase consisting of an ordinal adjective ("first"), a head noun ("day"), and a prepositional phrase acting as a modifier ("of work"). According to Ludwig, it functions primarily as a temporal marker in a sentence, often serving as the object of a preposition (e.g., "on") or the subject of a clause.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Social Media

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase ""first day of work"" is a foundational expression in English that is used to mark the beginning of a new professional chapter. Analysis by Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and exceptionally common in high-authority news outlets and scientific publications. It serves as a versatile tool for both personal anecdotes and formal reporting. While alternatives like "first day of employment" offer a more clinical tone, the query remains the most natural choice for most contexts. Writers should ensure they use correct prepositions like "on" or "for" to maintain the high quality found in professional writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

first day of employment

More formal and often used in legal or human resources documents.

initial day on the job

Slightly more descriptive and common in narrative storytelling.

day one of the new role

Modern corporate phrasing that emphasizes the specific position.

start date

Focuses on the administrative or calendar aspect of beginning work.

commencement of duty

Highly formal, often used in military or civil service contexts.

first shift

Used specifically for jobs that are organized by shifts (e.g., retail, nursing).

induction day

Refers specifically to the training or orientation part of the first day.

debut at the company

More dramatic or narrative, implying a significant entry into a new environment.

opening day of work

Less common, sometimes used when referring to a collective start (like a season).

maiden workday

An idiomatic or poetic way to describe the very first instance of working.

FAQs

How do I use "first day of work" in a sentence?

You can use it as a subject or an object to mark a specific point in time. For example: "My "first day of work" was quite overwhelming but exciting."

What can I say instead of "first day of work"?

Depending on the context, you could use "start date", "first day of employment", or "initial day".

Which is more formal: "first day of work" or "start date"?

While both are correct, "start date" is often preferred in HR contexts, while ""first day of work"" is more common in general conversation.

Is it "first day of work" or "first day at work"?

Both are acceptable. Use ""first day of work"" to focus on the activity/role, and "first day at work" to focus on the location.