must be first

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "must be first" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you need to indicate priority or importance. For example: "To ensure success, preparation must be first."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Of course, for this method to work, the product must be first rate.

The New York Times

So giving must be first to the Lord and Caesar may get what God permits Caesar to take!

The Guardian

To be eligible, students must be first year full-time UK undergraduate students paying the £9,000 tuition fee.

The Guardian

He imposed two rules on the remaining businesses: they must be first or second in their markets, and every quarter they must generate a higher profit.

The New Yorker

Under legislation passed in the final months of the federal Labor government, projects that will significantly impact the water table must be first assessed by the federal government.

The Guardian

It has been Francis's constant demand as pope that Catholicism must be, first and foremost, "a poor church, for the poor".

The Guardian - Opinion

In order to characterize the flame stretch, the corresponding flame deformation must be first measured.

Combustion and Flame

But of course, special systems and platforms for personalization must be first developed.

Journal of Systems and Software

To ensure customers can leave with a fully functional iPhone, it must be first be "unbricked".

TechCrunch

An initial estimation of the atrial frequency must be first addressed.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Isopach polygons are not accepted – these must be first converted to raster format.

Journal of Applied Volcanology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "must be first", ensure the context clearly establishes the sequential relationship. It's best used when outlining steps or priorities where order is crucial.

Common error

Avoid using "must be first" when you simply mean something is important, but not necessarily the initial step. Overusing it can dilute its impact when true sequence matters.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "must be first" functions as a modal verb phrase, indicating obligation or necessity regarding the order of actions or priorities. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. As exemplified by Ludwig, it is used to emphasize that something needs to precede other considerations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

39%

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "must be first" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to emphasize the necessary precedence of an action or consideration. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's correct and usable in various contexts. Predominantly found in scientific and news-related sources, it conveys urgency and the need for a specific order. When using this phrase, clarity and context are crucial to ensure the intended meaning of sequential importance is accurately conveyed. Be mindful of the distinction between mere importance and a required first step.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

must come first

Replaces "be" with "come", slightly altering the sentence structure while preserving the core meaning of priority.

needs to be first

Substitutes "must" with "needs to", softening the tone but maintaining the sense of requirement.

has to be first

Replaces "must" with "has to", providing a more colloquial alternative with the same implication of necessity.

should be prioritized

Shifts the focus to prioritization, implying that something should be given precedence.

ought to be first

Uses "ought to" instead of "must", suggesting a moral or advisory obligation.

is of utmost importance

Emphasizes the importance of something without explicitly stating it needs to be first.

takes precedence

Indicates that something takes priority or comes before other things.

is the first priority

Specifies something as the top priority, implying it must be addressed before others.

is essential initially

Highlights the initial necessity of something, indicating it's crucial at the beginning.

demands immediate attention

Stresses the urgency and need for something to be addressed promptly.

FAQs

How can I use "must be first" in a sentence?

The phrase "must be first" is used to emphasize the importance of something being prioritized or done before anything else. For example, "Safety "must be first" in all our operations."

What is a good alternative to "must be first"?

Alternatives include "must come first", "should be prioritized", or "is of utmost importance", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "must be first"?

Yes, the phrase "must be first" is grammatically correct. It uses the modal verb "must" to indicate necessity, followed by "be" and the ordinal adjective "first" to denote priority or sequence.

What is the difference between "must be first" and "is the first priority"?

"Must be first" directly implies a required order of actions or considerations, while "is the first priority" emphasizes importance and precedence without necessarily implying a strict sequence. You could use "must be first" when describing the steps of a process, but "is the first priority" when outlining goals.