first vocation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "first vocation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to someone's initial career or calling in life, often in the context of discussing their professional journey or experiences. Example: "After exploring various fields, she finally returned to her first vocation as a teacher, which she had always loved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Much later in the story, after Merivel's fall from grace and during his long struggle to make sense of his life by an attempted return to his first vocation, medicine, Finn executes a portrait of him, and this confrontation with his own face brings about a rare moment of stillness amid my hero's restless strivings.

The Guardian

It is humanity's first vocation.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

This led to a second vocation as an actress in summer stock and regional theater.

The New York Times - Arts

Not surprisingly, given her second vocation, the lines of Ms. Colon's clothes are uncomplicated.

The New York Times - Style

Half of all the participants combined their primary profession with a second vocation.

BMC Family Practice

Double Lives: Stories of Extraordinary Achievement, by David Heenan Davies-Black Publishingg, $24.95), tells the story of ten remarkable people who, not satisfied with their own extraordinary "day jobs," carved out second vocations equally, if not more, fulfilling.

Forbes

The second virtue, vocation, has a similar effect.

Huffington Post

The second term, vocations, is defined as the individual worker's journey, calling, or personal trajectory (Dewey [1916]).

Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training

In the second sense, vocations might be specified as those activities to which people are drawn (Estola et al. [2003]) or "called" (e.g., Dror [1993]), which provide lifelong fulfillment through their exercise (Hansen [1994]).

Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training

What he called the "person of vocation," first outlined famously in The Protestant Ethic, provided a bedrock for his various efforts to resuscitate a character who can willfully combine unflinching conviction and methodical rationality even in a society besieged by bureaucratic petrification and value fragmentation.

SEP

At thirteen he went to Gresham's School in Norfolk; there, in 1922, when his friend Robert Medley asked him if he wrote poetry, Auden first realised his vocation was to be a poet.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing someone's career trajectory, use "first vocation" to highlight a return to their original passion or skill after exploring other paths.

Common error

Avoid mistaking "vocation" for "vacation". "Vocation" refers to a calling or profession, while "vacation" refers to a period of rest or leisure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "first vocation" functions as a noun phrase, where "first" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "vocation". It indicates the primary or initial occupation or calling in someone's life, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "first vocation" is a grammatically sound and relatively uncommon way to refer to someone's initial career or calling. As Ludwig highlights, its use is appropriate in various contexts, especially when discussing career trajectories or a return to one's original passion. While suitable for formal writing, it's essential to distinguish it from similar-sounding words like "vacation". Alternatives such as "initial calling" or "original profession" can offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

initial calling

Emphasizes the sense of destiny or purpose in one's initial career choice.

original profession

Highlights the profession someone started with, especially if they changed careers later.

primary occupation

Focuses on the main job or career one initially held.

early career

Refers to the beginning stages of one's professional life.

first career path

Specifically indicates the route or direction of one's initial career.

maiden profession

A more formal or literary way to describe the first profession.

initial career choice

Highlights the decision-making aspect of selecting a first career.

starting vocation

Focuses on the act of beginning a particular vocation.

first line of work

A more informal way to describe the first type of job or career.

original field of work

Emphasizes the area or industry in which one initially worked.

FAQs

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

You can use "first vocation" to describe someone's initial career or calling, like, "After years in finance, she returned to her "first vocation" as a teacher."

What is the difference between "first vocation" and "second vocation"?

"First vocation" refers to the initial career or calling, while "second vocation" implies a later career change or additional professional pursuit.

Are there any synonyms for "first vocation"?

Yes, you can use alternatives like "initial calling", "original profession", or "early career" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "first vocation" in formal writing?

Yes, "first vocation" is suitable for formal writing, particularly when discussing career paths or professional journeys. The context determines its appropriateness.