initially then

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "initially then" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It can be used to indicate a sequence of events, but it is better to use clearer alternatives. Example: "Initially then, we planned to launch the product in June, but we had to delay it."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

He played for ballroom dancers initially, then joined the big band revival.

The Guardian

The students are paid $6.50 an hour initially, then $8.50 as production rises.

The New York Times

Jethro soon had the group doing jumps – low ones initially, then bigger.

The Guardian - Travel

"Up to 15percentt lose a lot of weight initially, then gain weight back.

The New York Times - Health

Mix, using a spoon initially, then floured hands, until you have a soft, sticky dough.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I usually take a minute to roll the dough initially, then allow it to rest for five minutes before proceeding.

The New York Times - Food

Players can buy up to three funds initially, then buy or sell more as the game progresses.

The New York Times

Teams of only Latinos, only Tibetans and only African-Americans competed initially, then were scrambled as mixed teams to play.

The New York Times

The selection process was begun by Contador, who stretched the group initially, then made a sharper acceleration, marked closely by Nibali and Froome.

The Guardian - Sport

It's also a thriller, about a hunt and an investigation, by the police initially, then by a father, with the help of a retired French detective.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Larger companies will begin the process initially, then the scheme will be introduced in smaller organisations over the next five years.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity, consider replacing "initially then" with more explicit alternatives like "at first, subsequently" or "initially, afterwards" to enhance readability and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

While acceptable, relying heavily on "initially then" can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your phrasing with alternatives to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "initially then" functions as an adverbial conjunction, indicating a temporal sequence. It connects two events or actions, specifying that one occurs after the other, similar to phrases like 'at first' or 'subsequently'. This is supported by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

42%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "initially then" functions as an adverbial conjunction, signaling a sequence of events. It is commonly used in both scientific and news contexts to indicate chronological order. Ludwig AI highlights that while grammatically acceptable, "initially then" can sometimes be improved upon by using more explicit alternatives like "at first, subsequently" for enhanced clarity and stylistic preference. Overuse of this phrase in formal writing should be avoided, as it might lead to repetitiveness. The frequency of this phrase is high, making it essential to understand its proper context and potential alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at first then

Replaces "initially" with "at first", providing a slightly more common and direct alternative.

initially, later

Replaces "then" with "later", providing a simple and direct alternative.

first, subsequently

Breaks the phrase into two distinct adverbs, emphasizing the sequence more clearly.

initially, afterwards

Replaces "then" with "afterwards", creating a slightly more formal tone.

primarily, subsequently

Offers a more formal and emphatic tone compared to "initially then".

originally, afterwards

Highlights the change from the original state or action.

to begin with, then

Uses a more verbose opening, suitable for emphasizing the start of a sequence.

at the start, then

Similar to "in the beginning", highlighting the commencement of a series of events.

in the beginning, then

Emphasizes the starting point more strongly than "initially".

first off, then

An informal alternative, suitable for casual contexts.

FAQs

What does "initially then" mean?

The phrase "initially then" indicates a sequence of events, where something happens at the beginning, followed by something else. It's similar to saying "at first, then..." or "first, subsequently...".

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

You can use "initially then" to describe a process or series of actions. For example, "The company focused on local markets "initially then" expanded internationally".

What are some alternatives to "initially then"?

You can use alternatives like "at first, then", "first, subsequently", or "initially afterwards" depending on the desired level of formality.

Is "initially then" grammatically correct?

While not strictly incorrect, the phrase "initially then" can sometimes sound awkward. Using alternatives often results in clearer and more stylistically pleasing sentences. For example, rewrite it as "at first then".