first subsequently

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "first subsequently" is not correct and is not usable in written English.
The terms "first" and "subsequently" convey conflicting temporal meanings, making the phrase confusing. Example: "First, we will discuss the background information; subsequently, we will analyze the results."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

The results showed that with increasing induced porosity the strength increases at first, subsequently decreases and then increases again.

Construction and Building Materials

The variation of the dental-practice segment (layer 1) is forecasted first, subsequently the variation of the dental-technology segment (layer 2) is calculated.

Health Economics Review

LL presents a sustained release period followed by an almost non-release stage, while PP releases on a quite slow rate at first, subsequently on the linearly increasing rate.

Polymer

"Women and children first" subsequently became standard procedure in relation to the evacuation of sinking ships, both in fiction and in real life.

Wikipedia

In positive ESI mode, Cer species flowed out of the column first, subsequently followed by GluCers, PCs and SMs.

Plosone

Time at risk was calculated from the date of the index offence until the date of the first subsequently registered offence or the end of the study.

BMC Psychiatry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

They reduced mortality in the flock and lowered the numbers of lower-quality "egg seconds," subsequently boosting the farmers' incomes.

The Guardian

And all this for a show that only averaged 2.5 million viewers for its most-watched season (its second), subsequently slipping below a million watchers in its final year.

Huffington Post

We report here the advantage of a 2-stage approach in which the first component combines the selective delivery of antibody with a capability to generate a cytotoxic agent from a second subsequently administered component.

British Journal of Cancer

For baseline, intracellular Ca++ levels were recorded for at least 30 seconds subsequently cells were stimulated with a high potassium solution (286 mM KCl) by manual application and recorded for another 90 seconds.

Acta neuropathologica communications

Her scheduled second (and subsequently third) immunization was cancelled due to Bell's palsy affecting Case 1.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "first subsequently" as it's grammatically incorrect. Instead, use "at first, then" or "initially, followed by" for clarity and correctness.

Common error

Don't combine "first" and "subsequently" directly. These words indicate the same point in a sequence, creating redundancy. Choose one or use a coordinating conjunction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "first subsequently" attempts to function as a sequential connector. However, Ludwig AI indicates it's grammatically incorrect because "first" and "subsequently" convey conflicting temporal meanings, creating redundancy.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "first subsequently" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. Ludwig AI identifies the redundancy in using both "first" and "subsequently" together, as they both indicate the beginning of a sequence. While the individual words are suitable for formal or neutral contexts, their combination creates an error. Instead, use alternatives like "at first, then" or "initially followed by" to clearly and correctly express sequential events. The phrase appears rarely, predominantly in scientific and news contexts, underscoring the importance of choosing more appropriate wording.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at first, then

Uses a common and clear way to express a sequence, replacing the single adverb 'subsequently'.

first, and then

Emphasizes a simple chronological order using "and then" for clarity.

initially followed by

Replaces "first subsequently" with a more grammatically sound structure indicating a sequence of events.

at the beginning, then

Emphasizes the starting point before indicating what follows.

beginning with, later

Highlights the start and a later phase using different introductory words.

to begin with, afterwards

A slightly more verbose version of the original, providing the same sequential meaning.

primarily, thereafter

Uses more formal synonyms for 'first' and 'subsequently', suitable for professional contexts.

initially, thereafter

Similar to 'primarily, thereafter' but with a slightly different tone.

in the first instance, subsequently

Replaces "first" with the phrase "in the first instance" for additional emphasis.

first, following that

Uses a participial phrase to introduce the subsequent action.

FAQs

Is it correct to say "first subsequently"?

No, the phrase "first subsequently" is grammatically incorrect. "First" and "subsequently" both indicate a starting point in a sequence, making the phrase redundant and confusing. It's better to use alternatives like "at first, then" or "initially, followed by".

What can I say instead of "first subsequently"?

You can use alternatives like "at first, then", "initially followed by", or "first, and then" depending on the context.

How to properly indicate a sequence of events in writing?

To indicate a sequence of events, use phrases like "initially," "at first," or "to begin with" for the first event. Then, use words like "then," "subsequently," "afterwards," or "later" to introduce the following events.

What's the difference between "first, then" and "first subsequently"?

"First, then" is a grammatically correct and clear way to indicate a sequence. "First subsequently" is incorrect because "first" and "subsequently" have overlapping meanings and should not be used together.