in the initial instance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in the initial instance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the first occurrence or situation in a sequence of events or actions. Example: "In the initial instance, we will focus on gathering data before making any decisions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Yes, but what I would say is that whether or not there is a new law, that is whether there is a change in the enactment in the language of the statute or the constitution, is something that has to be decided in the initial instance by the Florida Supreme Court interpreting Florida law.

The New York Times

For now, it looks like access to both tiers is free, at least in the initial instance.

TechCrunch

Thus, in the initial instance, a theory is built around a selection of paradigm examples of what capacity and incapacity should be taken to be.

SEP

Conservative management of IMHs in the initial instance is more than appropriate, as most patients develop only a single, self-limiting episode of hyphaema.

BMC Ophthalmology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Open image in new window Fig. 2 An OSGi-based JMS service described by the framework's DSL (the graph in the middle and the initial instances description in the right).

Vietnam Journal of Computer Science

Their focus is therefore on helping sellers make the best listings they can — working with them to flesh out listings when there isn't enough information included in the initial submission, for instance, or getting them to improve the photography before the listing finally goes live.

TechCrunch

To determine patients with unplanned readmissions, the first or initial instance in a series of hospitalizations was identified.

BMC Health Services Research

Still, IG Metall is very powerful and acts as the pace-setter, for instance in the initial phase of the recession when it negotiated a 'shorter working hours' schedule and, in direct contact with the government, a car wrecking subsidy scheme.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

For instance, in the initial draft of the manuscript the authors suggested that "ubiquitously expressed genes are less compact than narrowly expressed genes with similar expression levels (P = 0.2386)".

Biology Direct

In the initial study on marmosets, for instance, individuals of a group learned one solution during training and kept their individual habits even when an alternative method became available (Pesendorfer et al., 2009).

Animal Behaviour

However, whereas in [13], the authors assumed independent SNR instances in the initial and delayed transmission in the internode protocol, and we include the analysis of temporal variations of the wireless channel in internode communication.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in the initial instance" to clearly denote the first step or action in a sequence, especially when emphasizing the order of events.

Common error

Avoid using "in the initial instance" when simpler alternatives like "initially" or "at first" suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or verbose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in the initial instance" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the timing or sequence of an action. It specifies that something happens at the beginning or as a first step. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "in the initial instance" is a grammatically sound adverbial phrase used to highlight the beginning or first step in a sequence of events. Ludwig AI indicates its correctness and usability. While accurate, its formal tone means it's most appropriate for science, news, and encyclopedic contexts. Simpler alternatives like "initially" or "at first" may be more suitable for less formal writing. Remember to use "in the initial instance" when you need to emphasize the importance of the starting point, but avoid overuse to maintain clear and concise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at first

A more concise alternative with the same emphasis on the start.

initially

A shorter, adverbial form conveying the same meaning of 'in the initial instance'.

at the outset

Replaces 'in the initial instance' by focusing on the very beginning or start.

to begin with

Indicates starting a sequence of actions, similar to 'in the initial instance'.

to start off

An informal way to indicate beginning something, synonymous to 'in the initial instance'.

at the beginning

Similar meaning, simply emphasizes the start of an event or process.

in the first place

Emphasizes the priority of the first action, similar to 'in the initial instance'.

as a first step

Directly refers to the first action taken in a series.

in the preliminary stage

More specific, referring to the early stage of a process.

in the early stages

Broader, referring to the initial phases instead of a specific instance.

FAQs

How can I use "in the initial instance" in a sentence?

Use "in the initial instance" to specify the very first action or occurrence within a sequence of events. For example, "In the initial instance, the system will verify the user's credentials".

What's the difference between "in the initial instance" and "at first"?

"In the initial instance" is more formal and specific, emphasizing a particular point in time. "At first" is more general and can refer to a broader period at the beginning.

What can I say instead of "in the initial instance"?

You can use alternatives like "initially", "at the outset", or "to begin with" depending on the context.

Is "in the initial instance" interchangeable with "in the first instance"?

Yes, "in the initial instance" and "in the first instance" are largely interchangeable and carry the same meaning, although "in the initial instance" may sound slightly more formal.