firstly subsequently

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "firstly subsequently" is not correct and is not typically used in written English.
It is redundant because "firstly" indicates the first point, while "subsequently" refers to something that follows, making their combination unnecessary. Example: "Firstly, we will discuss the background of the project; subsequently, we will outline the next steps."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

We performed these analyses twice: firstly after exclusion of the transferred-out cases and subsequently after exclusion of all transferred cases.

BMC Health Services Research

Next, the presence of concentration polarization and fouling has been firstly studied and subsequently quantified by means of a resistance in series model.

Journal of Membrane Science

The potentiodynamic tests showed that with the bombardment dose increasing, the passive current density, closely related to the surface corrosion resistance, decreased firstly and increased subsequently.

Surface and Coatings Technology

Macroscopic response shows that the equivalent stress suddenly drops then increases, firstly softening and subsequently hardening degrees are related to the turning angle values.

Acta Materialia

Based on the experimental design, a semi-empirical expression was firstly established and subsequently applied to predict the photocatalytic degradation activity of the prepared composite photocatalysts to gaseous styrene in a cubic flow-through reactor.

Applied Catalysis B: Environmental

Lactic acid was observed to be an intermediate fermentation product as it was firstly produced and subsequently metabolized during the process.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

The Labour modernisers, firstly Mr Kinnock and subsequently Tony Blair and those round him, have rewritten history to portray Mr Livingstone's stewardship as an unqualified disaster.

The Guardian

Dodson added: "Gregor's playing record as a Scotland internationalist and British Lion showed he is a man of vision and great professionalism, which he has since successfully transferred into his coaching roles, firstly with Scotland and subsequently Glasgow Warriors".

The Guardian - Sport

The authors propose a personal path, starting from the identification of a number of common features of living systems that can be viewed as sources of complexity, firstly in general, and subsequently focusing specifically on evolution problems.

Physics of Life Reviews

This was started some years ago, firstly by Alberto García and Jon Wakelin and subsequently by Toby White in the Materials Grid project [23].

Journal of Cheminformatics

For these reasons, the same statistics have been extrapolated to describe firstly authors' performance and subsequently journals' performance.

Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "firstly subsequently" as it is redundant. Choose either "firstly" or "subsequently" depending on whether you want to introduce the initial point or refer to a following action. For example: "Firstly, consider the budget" or "Subsequently, review the timeline".

Common error

Don't combine adverbs that indicate sequence redundantly. Using both "firstly" and "subsequently" together creates unnecessary repetition. Choose the most appropriate adverb to clearly indicate the order of events without being repetitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "firstly subsequently" functions as an attempted adverbial sequence marker, but it is grammatically incorrect due to redundancy. As Ludwig AI explains, "firstly" already implies a sequential start, making "subsequently" unnecessary and creating an awkward construction.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "firstly subsequently" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. As Ludwig AI's analysis indicates, the phrase is redundant, as "firstly" already implies a sequence, making "subsequently" unnecessary. Since it is considered grammatically incorrect, more suitable options such as "first and then" or "initially, followed by" should be used. The use of clear, concise language enhances the clarity and professionalism of your writing, ensuring your intended meaning is effectively conveyed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

first and then

This alternative replaces the adverb 'subsequently' with a simpler conjunction 'and' followed by 'then', indicating a straightforward sequence.

initially followed by

Using 'initially' in place of 'firstly' and 'followed by' instead of 'subsequently' provides a more formal and grammatically sound construction.

first, after that

This alternative breaks the sequence into two distinct parts, emphasizing the temporal order of events.

to begin with, then

This phrase provides a clear starting point ('to begin with') and then indicates the subsequent action ('then').

at first, later

This alternative uses simpler adverbs to denote the sequence of events, suitable for less formal contexts.

in the first place, afterwards

This option offers a more emphatic way to introduce the initial action and its subsequent follow-up.

initially, thereafter

This provides a more formal tone, replacing 'firstly' and 'subsequently' with higher-register synonyms.

first off, next

A more casual alternative, suitable for informal communication.

in the beginning, subsequently

Retains 'subsequently' while offering 'in the beginning' for a slightly different emphasis.

primarily, then

Focuses on the primary action before indicating the subsequent one.

FAQs

Why is "firstly subsequently" considered grammatically incorrect?

The phrase "firstly subsequently" is redundant because "firstly" already indicates the initial point in a sequence, while "subsequently" refers to something that follows. Using both together is unnecessary and grammatically awkward.

What are some alternatives to using "firstly subsequently"?

Instead of "firstly subsequently", you can use phrases like "first and then", "initially followed by", or "first, after that" to indicate a sequence of events.

Is it ever appropriate to use "firstly subsequently" in formal writing?

No, "firstly subsequently" is not appropriate in formal writing. It is considered grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in favor of clearer and more concise alternatives.

How can I clearly indicate a sequence of actions in my writing without using redundant phrases?

To clearly indicate a sequence of actions, use adverbs like "first", "second", "then", "next", or "subsequently" individually. For example, "First, gather the data; then, analyze the results."