from a first look

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "from a first look" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to emphasize that you made a quick assessment of something based on superficial evidence. For example: "From a first look, the painting appears to be an original Monet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Hard to tell from a first look, so I'm waiting for a replay.

The Guardian - Sport

Saul Steinberg, as yet unknown, was living in Italy but thinking of making a change; George Booth was six, Ed Koren two years shy of his birth, and Roz Chast a couple of decades away from a first look at her unkempt world.

The New Yorker

The first conclusion we can gather from a first look at the graph is that VMR is able to finish the MapReduce job in half the time of VCS.

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

From a first look, we see that, while the vertices highest ranked statically appear also among the highest ranked temporal ones, there are some nodes with insignificant static betweenness, whose temporal betweenness is extremely high.

Computational Social Networks

We will also have to see if Swift makes getting started with app development on Apple's platforms easier, but from a first look at the documentation, it definitely feels more accessible than Objective-C.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

There were also tons of people, of course, from collectors anxious for a first look at this year's wares to socialites to press to artists (we spotted Jim Rosenquist near a particularly vibrant painting of his own creation).

HuffPost

The show never made it to the air, but they secured a promise from Comcast to take a first look at any of their next ideas.

Forbes

After taking a hiatus from music, we got a first look at La Toya's new video for "Feels Like Love" and upon viewing the final version, we actually kind of... love it.

Huffington Post

The genetic data produced from this study allowed a first look at the phylogenetic relationship of E. chloroticus to other members of its family.

BMC Genomics

Though still trailing Mr. Romney by quite a distance, Mr. Santorum, who has been on the fringes of previous debates, is clearly benefiting from a second look by voters after his near-win in Iowa.

The New York Times

410 patients from the original collective returned for a second-look laparoscopy.

BioMed Research International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "from a first look" to introduce an initial impression or assessment that may be subject to change upon further investigation. Make sure it's followed by a statement or observation based on that initial impression.

Common error

Avoid treating observations "from a first look" as definitive conclusions. Always indicate that further analysis or information may be needed to form a complete understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "from a first look" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb or clause, indicating the basis for an initial impression or assessment. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and used to introduce a preliminary observation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "from a first look" is a prepositional phrase used to introduce an initial assessment or impression, often implying that this view might change with more information. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and suitability for various contexts, particularly in news, media and science. While versatile, it's important to avoid treating first impressions as final judgments. Consider alternatives like "at first glance" or "on initial inspection" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at first glance

Focuses on the visual aspect and immediate impression.

on initial inspection

Emphasizes a more formal and investigative initial assessment.

upon first viewing

Specifically relates to a visual medium like a film or image.

from an initial perspective

Highlights the subjective nature of the initial assessment.

at the outset

Implies a beginning or starting point of observation.

on the face of it

Suggests a superficial or apparent impression.

at first blush

Emphasizes the immediate and often superficial nature of the impression.

from a cursory examination

Highlights the brief and not very thorough nature of the assessment.

in the beginning

Focuses on time and initial phase.

initially

A simple adverb indicating the beginning.

FAQs

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

You can use "from a first look" to introduce an initial assessment, like: "From a first look, the project seems well-organized."

What's a good alternative to "from a first look"?

Alternatives include "at first glance", "on initial inspection", or "upon first viewing", depending on the context.

Is it always accurate to rely on a "from a first look" assessment?

No, assessments "from a first look" are initial and may not be entirely accurate. Further investigation is often necessary.

What's the difference between "from a first look" and "after a thorough examination"?

"From a first look" implies a quick, initial impression, while "after a thorough examination" suggests a detailed analysis.