first thing today

USAGE SUMMARY

"first thing today" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to indicate the first thing you did, or will do, on a certain day. For example: "First thing today, I checked my emails."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

10.56am BST "I will forgive Cook many of his failings", posits the magnanimous Ravi Nair, "if he makes up for not playing Ali first thing yesterday, by not playing him first thing today either.

The Guardian - Sport

First thing today is a meeting with the other scientists in my team: Mervyn, the project leader, Mike, a senior radar scientist, and Gareth, my counterpart on the experimental side of things.

Science Magazine

If he had added a just few more words, say, "Handle Facebook user responses first thing today because we had a lot of complaints overnight," we could have avoided unnecessary back and forth.

Forbes

MOORPARK — The game film will be queued up first thing today and Flintridge Prep first-year football Coach Antonio Harrison will have plenty to say to his players.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

And buried first thing tomorrow morning".

The New Yorker

Bond's dreams were shattered the first thing yesterday morning.

The New York Times - Sports

Andrew Sparrow will be with you first thing tomorrow.

The Guardian

I can get you those files first thing tomorrow.

The New Yorker

"Au contraire — I'm getting myself discharged A.M.A., first thing tomorrow".

The New Yorker

First thing tomorrow I'm looking into moving Max to a different school".

Independent

I made a mental note to buy myself both those items first thing tomorrow.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "first thing today" to clearly indicate the initial action or priority for the current day in communications, ensuring the recipient understands the intended timeline.

Common error

Avoid using "first thing today" when referring to an action that might be delayed or superseded by other priorities. Ensure the action is genuinely the first one planned for the day to maintain clarity and reliability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "first thing today" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to specify when an action takes place. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is a correct and usable element within sentence structure.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science & Research

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "first thing today" correctly identifies something happening at the beginning of the current day. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. It functions as an adverbial phrase, typically used in neutral contexts, although its usage leans towards News and Media. While relatively rare, with limited examples found in the search data, it effectively communicates immediacy. To avoid ambiguity, ensure that the intended action genuinely occurs at the beginning of the day.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

first thing this morning

Similar to the original phrase, adding slight redundancy with "this morning".

at the start of the day

Emphasizes the timing of an event at the beginning of the day.

early this morning

Highlights the early timeframe within the current day.

the moment the day begins

A more emphatic and descriptive way of indicating the start of the day.

as soon as possible today

Shifts focus to immediacy rather than a specific time.

right away today

Emphasizes immediate action within the day.

at the crack of dawn

Highlights actions taken very early in the morning.

bright and early

Focuses on starting the day with enthusiasm and promptness.

at daybreak

Refers specifically to the time when daylight first appears.

the very first thing

Emphasizes the priority of the action but does not specify the time of day.

FAQs

How can I use "first thing today" in a sentence?

You can use "first thing today" to indicate the initial action or priority for the current day. For example, "First thing today, I will review the project proposal."

What phrases are similar to "first thing today"?

Alternatives include "early this morning", "at the start of the day", or "first thing this morning", each with slight differences in emphasis.

Is it redundant to say "first thing this morning" instead of "first thing today"?

While "first thing this morning" is similar to "first thing today", the former emphasizes that the action occurs specifically within the morning hours of the current day. "First thing today" is more general.

What's the difference between "first thing today" and "first thing tomorrow"?

"First thing today" refers to actions planned or completed on the current day, while "first thing tomorrow" indicates actions scheduled for the start of the next day.