first three quarters

USAGE SUMMARY

"first three quarters" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a period of time that is composed of three quarters or three parts. For example, "In the first three quarters of the year, our profits increased by 10%."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

His play in the first three quarters invited criticism.

The New York Times - Sports

He shot 6 for 18 over the first three quarters.

The New York Times - Sports

They had 13 in the first three quarters.

The New York Times - Sports

The fund returned 5percentt in the first three quarters.

The New York Times

Mahorn had 14, all in the first three quarters.

The New York Times - Sports

It returned 2.8percentt in the first three quarters.

The New York Times

Germany's economy barely grew in the first three quarters.

The New York Times

His quarterback rating for the first three quarters: 45.9.

The New York Times - Sports

They led at the end of the first three quarters.

The New York Times - Sports

For the first three quarters, the bureau reported, print ad pages declined 3.8 percent from the first three quarters of 2012.

The New York Times

By comparison, the increases in the first three quarters compared with the first three quarters of 1999 were 16.3percent, 17.55 percentand15.1percentent.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "first three quarters" in financial or business contexts, ensure clarity by specifying the year or period to which you are referring. For example, "In the first three quarters of 2024...".

Common error

Avoid assuming that "first three quarters" automatically refers to a calendar year. Always specify the relevant period (e.g., fiscal year) if it deviates from the standard calendar year to prevent misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "first three quarters" typically functions as a noun phrase or an adjectival phrase modifying another noun, denoting a specific period within a year or other defined time frame. As Ludwig AI states, it is commonly used in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

35%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "first three quarters" is a common and grammatically sound way to refer to the initial 75% of a year or other defined period. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. Predominantly used in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Academic contexts, it serves to provide temporal context in discussions of performance, progress, or financial results. While versatile, it's best practice to specify the year or period to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives include "initial three quarters" and "opening three quarters". Overall, the phrase is a reliable and frequently used expression across various professional and formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

initial three quarters

Replaces "first" with "initial", emphasizing the beginning period.

first three fiscal quarters

Specifies that the quarters are within a fiscal year, providing additional context.

opening three quarters

Substitutes "first" with "opening", focusing on the start or commencement.

starting three quarters

Emphasizes the commencement of a period, akin to "opening three quarters".

preceding three quarters

Uses "preceding" instead of "first", referring to the three quarters that came before a specific point in time.

prior three quarters

Similar to "preceding three quarters", indicating the three quarters before a given time.

early three quarters

Replaces "first" with "early", highlighting the initial part of a period.

the first to third quarter

Clarifies the range from the first up to the third quarter.

first nine months

Expresses the same duration using months instead of quarters.

initial 75 percent

Expresses the quantity as a percentage of a time period or quantity.

FAQs

How can I use "first three quarters" in a sentence?

You can use "first three quarters" to describe a period of time, such as in the sentence, "The company's revenue increased significantly in the "first three quarters" of the year".

What is an alternative to saying "first three quarters"?

Alternatives include "initial three quarters" or "opening three quarters", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "the three first quarters" instead of "first three quarters"?

While understandable, "first three quarters" is the more grammatically standard and commonly used phrasing. "The three first quarters" is less conventional.

What does "first three quarters" typically refer to?

Generally, "first three quarters" refers to the months from January to September in a calendar or fiscal year, representing 75% of the total period.