my first impression was

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "my first impression was" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when sharing your initial thoughts or feelings about a person, situation, or experience. Example: "My first impression was that the presentation was well-organized and engaging."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

When he bought the manual, he says, "my first impression was, my God, this reads like a bad psychology textbook.

The New Yorker

My first impression was that he was a lovely man and I was impressed by how talented he was.

The Guardian

"My first impression was: So many claims have become wrong.

The New Yorker

"My first impression was what a gentleman he was".

The New Yorker

And my first impression was that it was too much.

The New York Times

Mr. Criss said, "My first impression was Indiana Jones".

The New York Times

"My first impression was all these artificial colours, neon signs.

The Guardian

So my first impression was that these guys were mad.

The Guardian - Sport

My first impression was that he was still raw.

The Guardian - Sport

"When I saw the comments she made, my first impression was just stunned.

The New York Times - Sports

Of the apology, Ms. Audet said: "My first impression was to believe what he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "my first impression was", ensure that the rest of your sentence provides specific details about what caused that impression, making your statement more impactful and informative.

Common error

Avoid using "my first impression was" followed by a vague statement. Instead, add specific observations or details that support your initial feeling to give your statement more weight and meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "my first impression was" serves as an introductory phrase, functioning to signal the beginning of a subjective assessment or initial reaction. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a valid and common expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "my first impression was" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to introduce one's initial thoughts or feelings about something. As Ludwig AI highlights, its versatility allows it to fit into various contexts, though it is most commonly found in news and media. To use it effectively, provide specific details to support your initial impressions, avoiding vague generalizations. Remember that alternatives like "initially, I thought" or "at first glance, I felt" can offer nuanced ways to express your initial perceptions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

initially, I thought

Focuses on the thought process at the beginning.

at first glance, I felt

Emphasizes a feeling based on a quick look.

my initial reaction was

Highlights the immediate response.

what struck me initially was

Highlights what was most noticeable at the beginning.

my immediate thought was

Focuses on the first thought that came to mind.

I was initially under the impression that

Indicates a preliminary belief that may have changed.

my first thought upon seeing it was

Specifies the moment of seeing something.

the first thing that came to mind was

Highlights a spontaneous thought.

initially, my perception was

Focuses on how something was perceived at the start.

I initially perceived it as

Highlights the initial way something was understood.

FAQs

How can I use "my first impression was" in a sentence?

You can use "my first impression was" to introduce your initial thoughts or feelings about something. For example, "My first impression was that the presentation was well-organized and engaging."

What can I say instead of "my first impression was"?

You can use alternatives like "initially, I thought", "at first glance, I felt", or "my initial reaction was" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "my first impression is" instead of "my first impression was"?

While "my first impression was" refers to a past experience, "my first impression is" can be used if you are currently forming an impression. However, "my first impression was" is more common when recounting past experiences.

How does "my first impression was" differ from "I later realized"?

"My first impression was" describes an initial perception, while "I later realized" introduces a change in understanding. Use "my first impression was" to set the stage for your initial thoughts and "I later realized" to indicate how your perspective evolved.