first reasons

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "first reasons" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used when discussing initial justifications or explanations for a particular action or decision, but it is better to clarify the context. Example: "The first reasons for implementing the new policy include improving efficiency and reducing costs."

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

And as a regular Twitter user since 2009, I remember the first reasons why I fell in love with using it as a tool.

Independent

Three state mediators held an 11 a.m. news conference that gave subway-less New Yorkers their first reasons for hope in days.

The New York Times

Mr Reader reminds us that, from early Mesopotamian settlements to modern-day slums, most human activity has taken place in cities.Protection from invading enemies was one of the first reasons for the rise of the city.

The Economist

Examples first, reasons next: Germany, Japan, to a lesser extent Italy in a post WW II period and China after the cultural revolution, UK after Cromwell, USA after gaining independence – all of them ground into non - existence some prevailing interests of inhibitive and destructive nature and achieved long periods of sustained growth.

BBC

First, reasons for losses to follow-up after HAART initiation were not formally explored, and thus it is impossible to determine from these data the precise interventions capable of keeping patients alive and in care.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Affordability is the first reason.

The New York Times

The first reason: Obamacare.

The Washington Post

The first reason is globalization.

International Journal of Production Economics

The first reason underlies many important applications.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The first reason for this is ideology.

The Economist

But back to the first reason.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When listing multiple reasons, follow "first reasons" with "second reasons", "third reasons" and so on for structure.

Common error

Avoid restating the "first reasons" later in the explanation with similar phrasing. Instead, transition smoothly to subsequent reasons using conjunctions like "furthermore" or "moreover".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "first reasons" functions as a noun phrase identifying the initial justifications or motivations. Ludwig identifies it as functional, but with room for improvement in phrasing to enhance clarity and impact.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "first reasons" is used to introduce the initial justifications or motivations behind an action or decision. While understandable, Ludwig suggests that it can be improved with stronger alternatives like "primary reasons" or "main reasons" for enhanced clarity. Ludwig also highlights that the phrase has a neutral register and occurs primarily in news, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts. When using this phrase, avoid redundancy and clearly transition to subsequent reasons for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

primary reasons

Replaces "first" with "primary" to emphasize the main reasons.

initial reasons

Substitutes "first" with "initial" to highlight the reasons at the beginning.

main reasons

Uses "main" instead of "first" to denote the most important reasons.

leading reasons

Employs "leading" to suggest the reasons that guide or direct.

original reasons

Replaces "first" with "original" to indicate the reasons from the start.

initial motivations

Changes "reasons" to "motivations" focusing on the underlying drives.

primary justifications

Substitutes both words for synonyms to convey a similar meaning.

original rationale

Uses both alternative words to focus on the reasoning from the beginning.

chief reasons

Replaces "first" with "chief" to underscore the principal reasons.

key reasons

Uses "key" to point out the most significant reasons.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to saying "first reasons"?

You can use alternatives like "primary reasons", "initial reasons", or "main reasons" to convey similar meanings with perhaps slightly more clarity.

Is "first reasons" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "first reasons" isn't the most polished phrasing. Using "primary reasons" or "main reasons" can sound more precise and professional.

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

You might say, "The "first reasons" for choosing this approach were its cost-effectiveness and ease of implementation." However, rephrasing to "The primary reasons..." often improves the sentence.

What's the difference between "first reasons" and "main reasons"?

"First reasons" implies the reasons that came to mind initially, while "main reasons" suggests the most important or significant reasons. They can overlap, but "main reasons" carries more weight.