first handedly

USAGE SUMMARY

"first handedly" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that someone did something by themselves, without assistance; that they were the first person to do the task. For example, "She painted the entire house first handedly."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

If the local people, who are first handedly affected by overharvesting, do not know of the disastrous effects of overharvesting, then how can we fix the problem?

Columbia University

The tents, representative of Africa, the Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Americas, respectively, invite visitors to first handedly experience a cultural glimpse of each region.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

I went to that rally not because I supported Trump but because I genuinely wanted to first-handedly meet and talk to his supporters.

Forbes

She has also been credited as an inspiration to other performers such as Sara Evans, Kelly Clarkson, Lee Ann Womack, Terri Clark, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, The Net Music Countdown second-handedly reported, "That influence has manifested itself in many ways.

Wikipedia

Patient-level data will be obtained from EHRs, provider-level data will be obtained second-handedly from ACO clinics through their administration or provider-survey data; county-level data will be obtained from the publicly available ARF. Analysis.

F1000Research

The prompt for the paper on Huckleberry Finn asked students to make an argument that engaged with one of the assigned articles, and many chose to develop insights they first articulated off-handedly, even jokingly, during the cocktail party role-play.

University of California, Berkeley

Recordings were transcribed and translated into English by the first author single-handedly as suggested by Twinn [ 32].

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

She built the market, single-handedly at first, by peddling her croutons store to store.

The New York Times

He sank birdie putts on the first two holes, single-handedly putting Newport Beach at two-under.

Los Angeles Times

In late 1897 Joshua Slocum, who was attempting to become the first to sail single-handedly around the globe, disembarked in Cape Town and was presented to Kruger in Pretoria.

Wikipedia

Jon Stewart led the charge in impeaching George W. Bush during his first term, Colbert single-handedly brought about campaign-finance reform, and Steve Allen got the first Chinaman on the Supreme Court (played by a very convincing Mickey Rooney).

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "first handedly" when you want to emphasize that someone personally undertook an action for the first time, distinguishing it from actions performed by others or repeated actions. Be mindful that this phrase may sound unusual to some readers, so consider your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "first handedly" when you mean to say someone has "firsthand" experience. "Firsthand" refers to direct experience, whereas "first handedly" suggests performing an action alone for the first time. For example, say "I have firsthand knowledge" instead of "I know it first handedly".

Linguistic Context

"First handedly" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the manner in which an action is performed. It specifies that the action was done personally and for the first time. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "first handedly" is a grammatically correct adverbial phrase indicating an action performed personally and for the first time. Ludwig AI states the phrase is valid in the English language. While its usage is rare, it appears in both news and academic contexts. For greater clarity and wider acceptance, consider alternatives like "personally", "directly", or "single-handedly" depending on the context. Be careful not to confuse it with "firsthand", which denotes direct experience rather than initial action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

personally

Focuses on the direct involvement of an individual, without necessarily implying it's the first time.

directly

Emphasizes the absence of intermediaries in performing an action.

single-handedly

Highlights that something was done alone, without assistance.

on one's own

Similar to single-handedly but with a slightly broader connotation of independence.

independently

Stresses the autonomy in performing the action.

for the first time

Highlights the novelty of the action, not necessarily the personal involvement.

originally

Indicates the initial occurrence of an action or creation.

primarily

Indicates the main agent or cause, differing from doing something alone.

straightforwardly

Implies simplicity and directness in the manner of execution.

hands-on

Describes a practical and direct approach, though not necessarily the first.

FAQs

How can I use "first handedly" in a sentence?

"First handedly" indicates performing an action personally and for the first time. For instance, "She painted the entire house "first handedly"" implies she did it alone and it was the initial painting.

Is "first handedly" the same as "firsthand"?

No, "first handedly" means doing something personally and for the first time, while "firsthand" describes direct, personal experience. "I witnessed it "firsthand"" means you directly experienced it.

What are some alternatives to "first handedly"?

Consider using phrases like "personally", "directly", or "single-handedly" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "first handedly" or "single-handedly"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct but have different meanings. "First handedly" means doing something personally and for the first time. "Single-handedly" means doing something alone, without help. Choose the phrase that best fits the context.