on first draft

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on first draft" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the initial version of a written work, such as an essay, article, or report, before any revisions or edits are made. Example: "The ideas presented on first draft were compelling, but they needed further refinement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

An attempt to translate this thesis, on first draft of this piece, came out as: "black man can't be taken seriously because he's been too busy getting his end away to get married like a good lad".

Vice

SC: comments on first draft, editing.

BMC Psychiatry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Remember Ernest Hemingway's thoughts on first drafts.

WikiHow

In terms of grammar feedback, the most popular response (20 out of 63) was feedback on second drafts.

Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education

Response frequenciesa 1st-year students (N = 21) 2nd-year students (N = 23) 3rd-year studeNts (N = 20) Total average (a) On the first draft 3 3 5 11 (b) On the second draft 6 9 5 20 (c) On all drafts 9 3 7 19 (d) On the final draft 2 8 3 13 aThere was one empty response in the 1st-year group.

Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education

She was working on the first draft of "Strangers on a Train" but also continuing her "long argument" with God, and engaging in plenty of extracurricular activities.

The New Yorker

Don't focus on using "better" words on your first draft.

WikiHow

His work on the first draft led to a full-time position on the writing staff for DS9; Q was added to the story at this stage.

Wikipedia

Dr. Lee and Dr. Rechtman provided significant comments on the first draft of the manuscript and Dr. Lee provided advice on the statistical analyses.

BMC Pediatrics

On the first draft, I just try and have fun.

The Guardian

Then the producer gives notes on the first draft and another is written.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Remember that the phrase "on first draft" suggests the content is subject to change and further refinement. Use it to manage expectations appropriately.

Common error

Avoid presenting content labeled as being "on first draft" as polished or final. Doing so contradicts the inherent meaning of the phrase and undermines credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on first draft" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the stage at which something exists or occurs. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "on first draft" is a versatile phrase used to denote the initial, unrefined stage of a written work. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically sound and widely applicable across various contexts, from news and media to scientific writing. The phrase serves to manage expectations, indicating that the content is preliminary and subject to change. While widely accepted, using it effectively involves clearly communicating the preliminary nature of the work and avoiding the premature presentation of "on first draft" material as polished or final. Alternatives such as "in the initial draft" or "in the preliminary version" can offer subtle variations in meaning. All this make "on first draft" a strong candidate when you want to address the evolutionary step of a project, research, paper, publication, etc.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the initial draft

Replaces the preposition "on" with "in" and uses the adjective "initial" instead of "first".

in the preliminary version

Substitutes "draft" with "version" and "first" with "preliminary", emphasizing the early stage.

in the rough draft

Emphasizes the unpolished and incomplete nature of the initial draft.

at the draft stage

Focuses on the stage of drafting, omitting "first" for brevity.

in the first revision

Similar to the original phrase, but focuses on the first attempt at revising the text.

in the first iteration

Uses "iteration" instead of "draft", suitable for technical or iterative processes.

during the initial writing

Shifts focus to the writing process itself, highlighting its initial phase.

in the original manuscript

Uses "manuscript" to refer to the original written document, often used in academic contexts.

at the outset of drafting

Highlights the very beginning of the drafting process.

initially

A concise way to indicate that something was true at the beginning but may have changed later.

FAQs

How can I use "on first draft" in a sentence?

You can use "on first draft" to indicate that something is in its initial, unrevised form. For example, "The ideas presented "on first draft" were compelling, but they needed further refinement."

What is a good alternative to "on first draft"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "in the "initial draft"", "in the "preliminary version"", or "in the "rough draft"".

Is it appropriate to share something labeled as "on first draft"?

Yes, it can be appropriate if you need feedback or want to share initial ideas. However, make sure to clearly communicate that it is still a work in progress and not a final version.

What does it mean when someone says, "That's just on first draft"?

It typically means that the content being presented is not yet polished or finalized and is subject to revisions and changes. It's a way of managing expectations and indicating that the work is still in progress.