initially however

USAGE SUMMARY

"initially however" is a grammatically correct phrase and can be used in written English.
It is used when there is a contrast or change in information from the initial state to a subsequent state. Example: Initially, the project seemed to be progressing smoothly; however, unforeseen challenges arose and delayed its completion.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Initially, however, he won rapid promotion.

The Guardian

Initially, however, there was little interest.

The New York Times

Initially, however, 40 percent of the inhabitants stayed.

The New York Times - Health

Initially, however, Pevsner wanted simply to be a German.

The Guardian - Books

Initially, however, Amira Zahid saw no need to explain.

The New York Times - Arts

Initially, however, Eriksson discerned no signs of inner conflict in Vorst.

The New Yorker

Initially, however, it's hard to see how these words apply to Ms. Thomas herself.

The New York Times - Arts

At least initially, however, all that could be bad news for the recovery.

The New York Times

At least initially, however, it was Lane who shaped the narratives and polished the prose.

The New Yorker

Initially, however, and unlike Mary Lee, she does not appear to be a finner.

The New Yorker

Initially, however, Bremner had grave reservations about his ability to pull off the American accent that would be required.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "initially however" to clearly signal a contrast or change in circumstances following an earlier condition. This helps to guide the reader through shifts in your narrative or argument.

Common error

Avoid using "initially however" in very simple sentences where the contrast is already obvious. A simpler conjunction like "but" or a rephrasing might be more effective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "initially however" functions as an adverbial phrase combined with a contrastive conjunction, introducing a contrasting or unexpected element following an initial state or action. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "initially however" is a grammatically correct and frequently used construction to introduce a contrast following an initial condition or state. As Ludwig AI confirms, its function is to signal a shift or unexpected element in a narrative or argument. While considered neutral in register, it is most commonly found in news and media contexts, with notable presence in scientific writing as well. To maintain effective writing, avoid redundancy by omitting it in sentences where the contrast is already apparent. Alternatives include phrases like "at first however" or "originally however", allowing for slight variations in tone and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

initially though

Replaces "however" with "though" and keeps "initially" unchanged, leading to a slightly less formal tone.

at first however

Replaces "initially" with "at first", maintaining a similar meaning and level of formality. The change is in the introductory adverbial.

originally however

Uses "originally" instead of "initially", which implies a change from the original state or intention.

at the start however

Uses "at the start" to replace "initially" for a slightly less formal and more direct meaning.

to begin with however

Substitutes "initially" with the phrase "to begin with", offering a more conversational tone, while still indicating a starting point.

in the beginning however

Replaces "initially" with "in the beginning", providing a slightly more descriptive and less formal alternative.

at the outset however

Employs "at the outset" as a more formal substitute for "initially", suitable for academic or professional contexts.

first off however

Offers a more informal and colloquial alternative to "initially", changing the tone of the sentence.

in the first place however

Emphasizes the initial condition with a stronger sense of order, but slightly alters the flow.

primarily however

Changes the focus from a temporal start to a primary aspect, altering the nuance of the statement.

FAQs

How can I use "initially however" in a sentence?

Use "initially however" to introduce a contrast or change from an earlier situation. For example, "Initially, the project seemed promising; however, several unforeseen challenges arose."

What are some alternatives to "initially however"?

You can use alternatives such as "at first however", "originally however", or "to begin with however" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to use "initially however"?

While generally acceptable, "initially however" can be redundant in very simple sentences where the contrast is already obvious. Consider using a simpler conjunction like "but" or rewriting the sentence for better clarity.

What's the difference between "initially however" and "initially but"?

"Initially however" and "initially but" are similar, both indicating a contrast. However, "however" is generally considered more formal and can introduce a slightly stronger sense of contrast compared to "but".