from a first glance

USAGE SUMMARY

"from a first glance" is a correct phrase and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe a quick or brief observation or assessment of something. Example: From a first glance, the house appeared well-kept and modern.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

And the recommended movies presented in my watchlists were decent choices, from what I could tell from a first glance.

TechCrunch

No one had looked at how short a sentence we need to hear before making an assessment, although other studies had shown that we make quick judgments about people's personalities from a first glance at their faces.

Science Magazine

From a first glance, it looks like an awfully significant waste of time.

Huffington Post

You know, the sort of meetings where -- from a first glance and within a few words exchanged -- you know you've had an encounter that will impact you for life.

Huffington Post

Recent findings relating to the versatility of decoding rules in different species demonstrate that this problem may not be as insurmountable as it seems from a first glance.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Thus, this factor contains hydrogeochemical variable Ca, originating, at a first glance, from mineralization of the geological components of soils.

Applied Water Science

This factor contains hydrogeochemical variable pH, Si, CO3, originating, at a first glance, from mineralization of the geological components of soils.

Applied Water Science

Data from the presented study provide a first glance into the changes of transcript levels of S. papillosus induced by percutaneous migration.

Experimental Parasitology

Source: own calculations, based on a Eurostat special extraction from LFS. Fourth, and finally, a first glance at net migration flows suggests that these are closely related to economic developments.7 Inward migration flows were generally stronger in "old" Member States both before and after the crisis, but some changes took place with the crisis.

IZA Journal of Migration

Rather, it mapped about 1 Mb distally and 80 kb upstream from the SALL3 gene promoter, at a first glance, pointing to SALL3, a gene outside of the critical region, as the candidate gene for the phenotype.

Plosone

At a first glance, these data differ from those obtained in LAT-deficient Jurkat cells [6] and in murine LAT-depleted CD4+ T cells [46].

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "from a first glance" when you want to convey that your judgment is based on a brief or initial observation and may not be a complete or thorough assessment.

Common error

Avoid using "from a first glance" if you are presenting findings based on detailed analysis or in-depth research. This phrase indicates a preliminary assessment, not a comprehensive one.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "from a first glance" acts as a prepositional phrase functioning as an adverbial modifier. It modifies a verb or clause by indicating the basis or source of an initial impression or judgment. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

42%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "from a first glance" is a grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to indicate that an assessment is based on an initial, often brief, observation. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is correct and shows its use in various contexts, primarily in news, media, and scientific publications. While not as common as some alternatives, it is a valid and useful way to convey a preliminary judgment. Remember to consider the context when choosing this phrase, as it implies a superficial assessment rather than in-depth analysis. Its neutral register makes it appropriate for a variety of writing styles, though it might be less suited for highly formal or technical documents.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at first sight

Changes the preposition and noun while retaining the core meaning of an immediate impression.

on initial inspection

Replaces "glance" with "inspection", implying a slightly more thorough but still preliminary look.

from a quick look

Substitutes "first glance" with "quick look", simplifying the phrasing.

at the first viewing

Uses "viewing" instead of "glance", focusing on the act of seeing something initially.

upon a first look

Swaps "from" for "upon", creating a slightly more formal tone.

on first observation

Replaces "glance" with "observation", suggesting a more conscious effort to notice something.

initially

A single-word adverb that conveys the same meaning of a first impression.

at the outset

Shifts the focus to the beginning of something, implying an initial assessment.

superficially

Implies that the assessment is based on a surface-level understanding only.

from a cursory examination

Replaces "glance" with "cursory examination", indicating a brief and not very detailed assessment.

FAQs

How can I use "from a first glance" in a sentence?

You can use "from a first glance" to indicate an initial impression or assessment, as in, "From a first glance, the project seems well-organized."

What's a more formal alternative to "from a first glance"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "on initial inspection" or "upon initial assessment", which suggest a slightly more considered observation.

Is it correct to say "at a first glance" instead of "from a first glance"?

While "at first sight" is a common idiom conveying a similar meaning, "from a first glance" is also correct and emphasizes the origin of the impression. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "from a first glance" and "at first glance"?

Both phrases indicate an initial impression, but "at first glance" is more idiomatic, while "from a first glance" emphasizes that the impression originates from a quick look.