on first ballot

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on first ballot" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in the context of voting, particularly in elections or decision-making processes, to indicate that a candidate or proposal was approved on the first attempt without needing additional rounds of voting. Example: "The candidate was elected on first ballot, demonstrating strong support from the voters."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Anderson elected on first ballot.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

However, McCreary defeated Williams on the fourth ballot.

Wikipedia

On the first ballot, declared on 4 February 1975, she beat him by 130 to 119.

Independent

Burnett received 124 of 155 votes on the first ballot and was chosen unanimously on the second ballot.

Wikipedia

At the Democratic National Convention, which met on July 15 18 in Chicago, Roosevelt was nominated on the first ballot.

Encyclopedia Britannica

And Bill Weld wins by a hair 51%-47 51%-47e second ballot after getting 49% on the firsecondlot.

Huffington Post

To everyone's surprise, she defeated Heath on the first ballot, forcing his resignation, and she saw off Willie Whitelaw on the second ballot to become the first woman to lead a major British political party.

BBC

On the first ballot, Supreme Court Justice David Davis led, but Greeley took a narrow lead on the second ballot.

Wikipedia

"At least, not on the first ballot.

The New Yorker

But Goldwater captured the nomination on the first ballot.

The New York Times

On the first ballot, Ms. Rice earned 36 percent of the vote.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting election results, use "on first ballot" to clearly indicate a candidate's strong initial support and avoid ambiguity about the voting process.

Common error

Avoid using "on first ballot" in contexts that don't involve voting or selection processes; it can sound out of place. For general successes, use phrases like "on the first try" or "immediately".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on first ballot" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate when something happened, specifically during the first round of voting. As Ludwig AI indicates, this usage is considered correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "on first ballot" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase primarily employed to specify when a victory or approval occurs in voting scenarios. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is considered correct and appropriate for describing election results in a clear and decisive manner. Its prevalence in news media, encyclopedias, and other formal contexts indicates a neutral register suitable for general audiences. To maintain accuracy and avoid misinterpretation, reserve the usage of "on first ballot" to strictly voting-related scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

elected in the first round of voting

This alternative emphasizes the voting process and the round in which the election occurred.

won on the initial vote

Focuses on the winning aspect and highlights that it was the initial vote that determined the outcome.

achieved a first-ballot victory

This alternative places emphasis on victory.

secured victory in the first voting instance

This is a more formal and emphatic way of saying the same thing, highlighting the achievement of victory.

passed on the first attempt

Applies to situations beyond just elections, where a proposal or motion is approved immediately.

gained approval in the first round

Highlights the aspect of gaining approval rather than winning.

approved on the first vote

This alternative directly states that something was approved and highlights the immediacy of the approval.

clinched it on the first ballot

This is a more colloquial way to say that someone won decisively on the first ballot.

immediately elected

Emphasizes the speed and directness of the election process.

succeeded on the first try

This alternative is less specific to the voting context.

FAQs

How is "on first ballot" typically used in a sentence?

Typically, "on first ballot" describes how a candidate or proposal was approved in an election or voting process. For example: "The candidate was elected "on first ballot", demonstrating strong support from the voters."

What can I say instead of "on first ballot"?

Alternatives include "in the first round", "on the initial vote", or "passed on the first attempt", depending on the specific context you want to convey.

Is it always positive to be elected "on first ballot"?

Generally, yes. Being elected "on first ballot" indicates strong initial support and reduces the need for further rounds of voting, suggesting a clear mandate. However, it doesn't guarantee future success or performance.

What does "on first ballot" imply about the election?

It implies that the winner received a majority or a required threshold of votes in the very first round of voting, negating the need for subsequent ballots to narrow down candidates. This suggests a decisive victory and broad support.