looking first at

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "looking first at" is a perfectly acceptable phrase to use in written English.
For example, you could write, "Let us start by looking first at the positive aspects of this situation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Miss Agatha, I'm no detective," I said, looking first at her and then at my mother.

The New Yorker

"But that has to mean looking first at what the community needs.

The New York Times

When asking whether Adrian Peterson should be allowed to play, it's worth looking first at the violence he's openly acknowledged.

The New Yorker

"Luke is a very sick boy," he said, looking first at me and then at my husband.

The New York Times - Magazine

"When you are young, you marry for passion," she said, looking first at her son and then at her future daughter-in-law.

The New Yorker

As a result, Hale said they had to make up for the current increase looking "first at any operating accounts that are under-executing.

The Washington Post

If they do anything like we did they will be looking first at their physical presence and then talking with them to get an idea of their personalities.

The Guardian - Film

In a demonstration of "reverse-ecology," UC Berkeley biologists have shown that one can determine an organism's adaptive traits by looking first at its genome and checking for variations across a population.

University of California, Berkeley

In a demonstration of "reverse-ecology," biologists at the University of California, Berkeley, have shown that one can determine an organism's adaptive traits by looking first at its genome and checking for variations across a population.

University of California, Berkeley

"If they do anything like we did they will be looking first at their physical presence and then talking with them to get an idea of their personalities," he said.

The Guardian - Film

The sections that follow discuss the heterogeneity observed across these studies, looking first at study outcome measures and then at the findings of our risk of bias assessment.

Crime Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing a report or analysis, use "looking first at" to signal the initial area of focus before moving to subsequent points.

Common error

Avoid using "looking first at" when the subsequent discussion does not clearly build upon the initial point. Ensure a logical connection between the initial focus and the rest of your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "looking first at" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces an initial point of focus or analysis. It sets the stage for a discussion by directing attention to a specific aspect before moving on to others. Ludwig AI confirms that is acceptable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

32%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "looking first at" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed phrase across a variety of contexts, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Its primary function is to introduce an initial focus, guiding the reader through a logical progression of ideas. While versatile, it's best used when the subsequent discussion directly relates to and builds upon the initial point. Alternatives like ""initially considering"" or ""beginning with"" can be used for variety, but "looking first at" remains a clear and effective choice for signaling the start of an analysis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

initially considering

Focuses on the act of starting with something in deliberation.

beginning with

Emphasizes a starting point in a sequence or process.

starting by examining

Highlights the action of inspecting something as a preliminary step.

primarily focusing on

Indicates the main area of attention at the outset.

first and foremost addressing

Stresses the priority and importance of the initial consideration.

initially addressing

Similar to "looking first at", but with a more formal tone and emphasizes the act of addressing a topic.

to begin by considering

Highlights a formal and structured approach to the subject.

prioritizing the analysis of

This alternative places an emphasis on the systematic analysis that is given the most importance initially.

commencing with the review of

This is a more formal alternative that specifies a review process as the initial action.

in the first place considering

Highlights thinking about or dealing with someone or something.

FAQs

How can I use "looking first at" in a sentence?

You can use "looking first at" to introduce the initial point of analysis or consideration in your writing. For instance, "Looking first at the data, we can see a clear trend."

What are some alternatives to "looking first at"?

Some alternatives include "initially considering", "beginning with", or "starting by examining". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired emphasis.

Is it grammatically correct to say "looking first at"?

Yes, "looking first at" is grammatically correct and commonly used in both formal and informal writing to indicate the initial subject of examination.

What's the difference between "looking first at" and "primarily focusing on"?

"Primarily focusing on" emphasizes the main area of attention, whereas "looking first at" simply indicates the starting point. The former suggests greater importance, while the latter is neutral.