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Discover LudwigThe phrases "first" and "had" are both grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
However, when used together as "first had," it can be a bit unclear and may require more context to make sense. In general, it is more common to use "first" and "had" separately in a sentence. Here is an example of how "first had" could be used in written English: "Before I could fully understand the situation, I first had to go back and review all of the relevant documents." In this sentence, "first had" is used to describe a step that needed to be taken before the speaker could understand the situation. It could also be replaced with "first needed to" or "first had to do." Overall, while "first had" can be used in written English, it may be better to use the words separately for clearer communication.
Exact(53)
The first had old roots.
First had come the Joe McCarthy era.
The first had occurred fourteen years earlier.
(The first had been passed in November 2008).
The first had an eye allergy.
"The first had a blunderbuss," Ungerer writes.
Similar(6)
First, has it gotten too big?
The first has been to recentralise government.
Prisa first has to find a teammate.
First, Have Guts.
First have a shower.
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Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com