initially obtained

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "initially obtained" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that was acquired or received at the beginning of a process or situation. Example: "The data was initially obtained from a survey conducted in 2020."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The software was initially obtained by critics of electronic voting, who discovered it on a Diebold Internet site in January.

The New York Times

A warrant for Mr. Selebi's arrest was initially obtained by the prosecutors last September but was canceled after Mr. Mbeki suspended the director of public prosecutions.

The New York Times

E-mail messages initially obtained by the Web site Portfolio.com showed that Mr. Mozilo told employees to "take off 1 point" when granting the loan.

The New York Times

Determined not to stray from this path, the vestry of St. Mark's initially obtained church plans from the Ecclesiological Society in England.

The New York Times - Arts

Mr Falciani initially obtained details while employed as an IT worker in 2007 and passed them to French authorities.

Independent

Mr. Fertitta initially obtained the agreement of Landry's board to $14.50 a share to take Landry's private.

The New York Times

The leaked files were initially obtained by a former employee, Herve Falciani, and hold details of more than 100,000 account holders who held millions in Swiss accounts dating from 2006-07.

The Guardian

He said he initially obtained a prescription for steroids because he was concerned about his low energy, but found that the steroids gave him a look that drew a lot of compliments.

The New York Times

Rick King, a spokesman for AMC Theaters, recalled that Moviefone had initially obtained show schedule information free, whether directly from the theaters or from their published advertisements, and built its business selling sponsorships and ads that ran during phone calls.

The New York Times

Observed and latent variables initially obtained were critically analyzede.

Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

ZP of SiNPs in the initially obtained aqueous suspensions was -20 ± 2 mV.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "initially obtained" to clearly indicate that something was acquired or received at the beginning of a process or situation, especially when subsequent acquisitions or changes might occur.

Common error

Avoid using "initially obtained" when you simply mean 'obtained'. The 'initially' part is crucial for indicating a sequence or stage in the acquisition process. If there was no subsequent acquisition, it's unnecessary.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "initially obtained" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that something was received or acquired at the beginning. As Ludwig AI explains, it highlights the temporal aspect of the acquisition. It modifies a noun, specifying when it was obtained.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

47%

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

21%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "initially obtained" is a common and correct way to express that something was acquired or received at the beginning of a process. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread use. This phrase is most frequently used in scientific and news contexts to emphasize the temporal sequence of events. It’s crucial to use "initially obtained" only when it is relevant that something was acquired first, as opposed to later or at the end, and if there was no other acquirement do not use "initially obtained" because it would be redundant. Consider alternatives like "first acquired" or "originally received" to fine-tune your writing. Avoid misunderstanding its temporal scope to prevent redundancy and make sure that the meaning it gives is really what you want to express.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

initially acquired

Focuses on the action of acquiring rather than the state of being obtained. Close semantic meaning.

initially received

Focuses on the act of getting something, implying it was given or presented.

originally procured

Emphasizes the process of obtaining something, often through effort or special means. More formal.

initially collected

Implies a systematic gathering or accumulation of something at the beginning. Often used with data or information.

first secured

Highlights the act of making something safe or certain from the beginning. Slightly different nuance.

initially gained access to

Highlights the act of getting permission or the ability to use something at the start.

were initially granted

Suggests permission or authorization was given at the beginning. Implies a formal process.

originally derived

Focuses on the source or origin from which something was obtained, often in a technical or analytical context.

first came into possession of

A more verbose way of saying obtained, highlighting the change of ownership.

first established

Focuses on the beginning or foundation of something. Implies creation or setting up.

FAQs

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

You can use "initially obtained" to describe the first instance of acquiring something. For example, "The data was initially obtained from a survey conducted in 2020."

What's the difference between "initially obtained" and "subsequently obtained"?

"Initially obtained" refers to the first instance of acquiring something, while ""subsequently obtained"" refers to something acquired later in a sequence. The former sets the starting point, and the latter indicates a follow-up acquisition.

Is it correct to say "initially obtained" or should I use another phrase?

Yes, "initially obtained" is correct and commonly used. However, depending on the context, you might consider alternatives like "first acquired" or "originally received".

When should I use "initially obtained" instead of simply "obtained"?

Use "initially obtained" when it's important to emphasize that the acquisition happened at the beginning of a process or that there were subsequent acquisitions. If the timing is not relevant, "obtained" is sufficient.