first few months

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'first few months' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to the period of time that includes the first several months of a year. For example: "The first few months of 2021 have been incredibly challenging for everyone."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The first few months were awful.

The Guardian

The first few months flew-dragged by.

The Washington Post

It forgives corrections the first few months.

The New York Times

It was a difficult first few months.

The Guardian

The first few months were the worst.

The Guardian - Books

What have your first few months been like?

Harvard University

The first few months, that will be the focus.

The Washington Post

ICO will also be watching Iridium's first few months closely.

The Economist

"I was on autopilot for the first few months.

Independent

For the first few months, only Democrats attended.

The New Yorker

"Those first few months were a big learning curve.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "first few months" with adjectives to clearly convey the nature of the period. For example: "The first few challenging months..."

Common error

Avoid using "first few months" without specifying what those months pertain to. For example, instead of just saying "The first few months were tough", provide context like "The first few months after the relocation were tough."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "first few months" functions as a temporal specifier, indicating a duration of time. It is typically used as an adverbial phrase to modify a verb or clause, providing information about when an action or event occurred, as suggested by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Academia

21%

Science

14%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "first few months" is a common and grammatically sound way to refer to the initial period of a given timeframe. Ludwig's AI confirms its usability across various contexts. Predominantly found in news media and academic writing, it serves to provide a general temporal context without necessitating precise dates. When using this phrase, ensure to specify what period the months refer to for clarity. Consider alternative phrases like "initial months" or "early months" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

first couple of months

Specifies a slightly shorter duration, indicating approximately two months.

first several months

Indicates an unspecified number of months beyond the 'first' one.

initial months

Focuses on the beginning period, omitting the qualifier of 'few'.

opening months

Emphasizes the start or commencement of a period.

early months

Highlights that the months are at the beginning of a period, without specifying quantity.

the beginning months

Emphasizes that the months were at the commencement of something.

first months

A more general term that refers to the initial months of a specific period.

inaugural months

Conveys a sense of newness and beginning, often used in formal contexts.

the early part of the year

Refers to the initial months of a calendar year, less specific about the exact duration.

the initial phase

Shifts the focus from a specific time period to a broader phase or stage.

FAQs

How can I use "first few months" in a sentence?

Use "first few months" to describe a period shortly after a beginning, such as "The "first few months" of my new job were a steep learning curve".

What's a good alternative to "first few months"?

Depending on the context, consider using alternatives like "initial months", "early months", or "first couple of months".

Is it better to say "first few months" or "initial months"?

Both "first few months" and "initial months" are correct, but "first few months" specifies a short duration, whereas "initial months" is more general.

Can I use "first few months" to refer to a specific time of year?

Yes, you can use "first few months" in reference to a year: "The "first few months" of 2024 were unusually warm."