firsts

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "firsts" is correct and usable in written English! You can use it when referring to something that happened, occurs, or was done for the first time - or a succession of such events.
For example: "I enjoyed experiencing the firsts of parenthood with my newborn."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Indeed, he made the most fundamental categories of all "things" of any sort whatsoever the categories of "Firstness," "Secondness," and "Thirdness," and he often described "things" as being "firsts" or "seconds" or "thirds".

SEP

Talawa Firsts celebrates black British new writing in three weeks of performances, readings and workshops at Talawa's studio in north London.

The Guardian

Both got firsts.

The Guardian

Just four climbers died, including a Nepali Sherpa who had made 11 previous successful ascents.Traditionalists are also worried about the growing tendency of expeditions to set records and achieve "firsts", rather than simply climb the mountain.

The Economist

Making the proteins from scratch is more difficult, because their shape is crucial to their function, so it is not clear whether he will bother to do so.Although he is interested in chalking up firsts, Dr Church focuses mainly on making tools.

The Economist

THE American mania for observing "firsts" is flaring anew, this time in Virginia.

The Economist

He and his wife, Kwa Geok Choo, both got firsts in law.When Geok Choo first appears in "The Singapore Story" it is as a student who, horror of horrors, beats young Harry in economics and English exams.

The Economist

Then again, in a campaign marked by all manner of firsts, history may be a poor guide.

The Economist

There are lots of firsts to be snapped up.

The Economist

DOUGLAS WILDER'S political career is all about firsts: in 1969, he became Virginia's first black state senator since Reconstruction.

The Economist

New statistics this week showed that the number of firsts awarded by Britain's 19 top universities had risen by half in the past five years.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing historical events or achievements, use "firsts" to emphasize pioneering efforts and the establishment of new precedents.

Common error

Avoid using "firsts" when you mean "firstly". "Firstly" is an adverb used to introduce the first point in a series, while "firsts" refers to initial events or achievements. For example, instead of "Firsts, I want to thank you..." use "Firstly, I want to thank you..."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "firsts" is that of a plural noun. It typically acts as the object of a verb or the complement of a preposition, denoting multiple initial occurrences or achievements. As Ludwig AI indicates, it refers to events that happened for the first time.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "firsts" is a versatile and commonly used plural noun that refers to initial events or pioneering achievements. As Ludwig AI confirms, the term is grammatically correct and frequently found across a variety of contexts, including news, encyclopedias, and scientific publications. When writing, it is important to distinguish "firsts" from "firstly", avoid using "firsts" when "first" is more appropriate, and remember to consider the specific nuance you want to convey when choosing among alternatives such as "debuts" or "milestones".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unprecedented occurrences

Focuses on the novelty and lack of prior examples. This is more specific to the uniqueness of something never having happened before.

groundbreaking achievements

Highlights the innovative and pioneering nature of accomplishments. It emphasizes the impact and significance, unlike a bare "first".

landmark moments

Stresses the historical importance and impact of certain events. It shifts the focus from the order of occurence to the notability of the occurence.

debuts

Refers specifically to an initial public appearance or performance. It is less versatile than "firsts", being usually reserved to events that are shown to a public.

milestones

Indicates significant events or turning points in a process or history. It focuses on the importance of the event rather than its mere precedence.

pioneering efforts

Highlights the innovative and exploratory nature of the actions taken. It puts more emphasis on how the result has been achieved.

initial steps

Focuses on the beginning of a process or journey, emphasizing the initial actions taken. It changes perspective compared to "firsts".

early instances

Emphasizes the temporal aspect of something occurring before others of its kind. More appropriate in narrative or historical contexts.

inaugural events

Describes events that mark the beginning of a series or institution. This phrase is more formal and applies specifically to beginnings.

frontrunners

While not a direct synonym, this term captures the idea of leading or being the initial entity in a particular domain or activity, changing the perspective and focusing on entities.

FAQs

How to use "firsts" in a sentence?

"Firsts" is used to describe events or achievements that are the earliest of their kind. For instance, "The museum celebrates the city's many technological "innovations" and "breakthroughs".".

What can I say instead of "firsts"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "debuts", "milestones", or "groundbreaking achievements".

Which is correct, "firsts" or "first"?

The correct form depends on the context. Use "first" for singular instances (e.g., "It was a first for the team.") and "firsts" for multiple instances or a collection of first-time events (e.g., "The book chronicles many scientific "discoveries" and "firsts".").

What's the difference between "firsts" and "novelties"?

"Firsts" refers specifically to events or accomplishments that happen for the first time, emphasizing precedence. "Novelties", on the other hand, refers to new or unusual items or experiences that may or may not be the very first of their kind.