in the first thing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in the first thing" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to refer to the initial point or item in a discussion or list, but it lacks clarity and proper structure. Example: "In the first thing, we need to address the budget concerns before moving forward."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

And as you walked in, the first thing you saw was the toilet.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Whatever bunker you go in, the first thing you try is to get out.

The New York Times - Sports

When I walked in, the first thing I said was, 'I'm glad that someone is willing to take a chance here,' " after the hurricane.

The New York Times

When you walk in, the first thing you see, and hear, is water flowing from tanks of tilapia fish to feed rows of lettuce.

The New York Times - Arts

When she walks in, the first thing you see is Margaret Atwood's wide-brimmed black hat, which serves its wearer less for the purposes of fashion than for camouflage.

The Guardian - Books

Schwenk said: "When we came in, the first thing coach said was, 'If you don't want to be here, let us know, because after you go through the conditioning, all the work, you're our guys.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

In fact, the first thing I ever published was in an Archie comic.

Huffington Post

Reading glasses is in fact the first thing people get rid of in a makeover.

Vice

"If you want to lead around the world - and this a globalised environment we're working in - the first thing you've got to do is be strong in your neck of the woods and I think that's the point they're making".

BBC

In Europe, the first thing peripheral governments need to do is stop accumulating debt, and quickly.

The New York Times

I went in and the first thing he said to me was that he was retiring.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "in the first thing". Instead, opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "first of all", "the first thing I noticed", or "to begin with" to ensure clarity and proper sentence structure.

Common error

A common error is using unnecessary prepositions which impact clarity. Instead of writing "in the first thing", use the phrase "the first thing" or replace it with adverbs that denote order such as "firstly" or "initially".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in the first thing" functions as an introductory phrase, aiming to introduce an initial point or observation. However, due to its grammatical incorrectness, as flagged by Ludwig AI, it fails to perform this function effectively. Examples show attempts to use it in contexts where a more precise expression is needed.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "in the first thing" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. Ludwig AI analysis indicates that this phrase is not a standard English construction, and thus lacks clarity. While it may occasionally appear in informal contexts, better alternatives like "first of all", "the first thing I noticed", or adverbs such as "initially" are recommended for clear and correct communication. The limited examples available confirm its rare and questionable usage. Always prioritize grammatically sound phrases to ensure your writing is professional and easily understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

first of all

Replaces the preposition "in" with "of all" for grammatical correctness and clarity.

the first thing I noticed

Adds a subject and verb to create a complete and grammatically sound sentence.

initially

Uses an adverb to indicate the beginning or start of an action or observation.

to begin with

A common phrase that introduces the first point or action in a sequence.

at first glance

Emphasizes an initial impression or assessment, replacing the vagueness of the original.

the primary thing

Emphasizes the importance of the initial aspect.

the opening act

Refers to the first event or action in a series, using a metaphor.

the initial step

Replaces 'thing' with 'step' to highlight the beginning of a process or action.

in the beginning

This emphasizes a temporal start of something.

as a start

It's a synonymous of "to start with".

FAQs

How can I correctly express starting with something?

Instead of using "in the first thing", which isn't grammatically sound, you can use phrases like "first of all", "to begin with", or simply "initially".

What's a more formal way to say "in the first thing"?

A more formal approach would be using phrases like "primarily", "initially", or restructuring the sentence to begin with "the first step" is to...

Is "in the first thing" grammatically correct?

No, "in the first thing" is not grammatically correct. It's better to use "the first thing" followed by a verb, or use adverbs like "firstly" or "initially".

How can I describe an initial observation correctly?

To properly describe an initial observation, you could say "the first thing I noticed was..." or "at first glance, it appeared that...". Both options provide clarity and grammatical accuracy.