only the initial step

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "only the initial step" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to the first part of a process or a series of actions. For example: "Completing the application is only the initial step in the hiring process." Alternative expressions include "just the first step" and "merely the starting point."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

While admitting surgery was only the initial step to recovery for mutilated women, Foldès declared his technique a success.

The Guardian

While only the initial step – the next stage will involve a full consultation on a detailed proposal and draft legislation – it potentially heralds a new era of increased corporate exposure to prosecution.

Columbia University

But because the journey through the Inferno primarily signifies a process of separation and thus is only the initial step in a fuller development, it must end with a distinct anticlimax.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"That was only the initial step," Gizzatov tells me.

TechCrunch

Achieving fracture reduction and stabilisation is only the initial step; good post-operative rehabilitation is essential.

Strategies in Trauma and Limb Reconstruction

Investigating the connection between RNA editing and cancer progression is only the initial step in this research.

Gut

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Disarmament and demobilisation are only the initial steps in such circumstances, however, and Coomaraswamy stressed the importance of rehabilitation programmes providing former child soldiers in the LRA with psycho-social counselling, education and livelihood training.

The Guardian

It never had much money; it could usually take only the initial steps towards helping individuals to help themselves; and not all the stories were happy (unemployment, depression and even suicide were not unfamiliar outcomes, as some refugees lost the battle with the wounds inflicted on them at home and the chilly or simply unfamiliar forms of life they encountered in exile).

The Guardian - Books

We therefore recommend that qPCR primers for siRNA work should span the putative siRNA cleavage site, thus avoiding the amplification of mRNA molecules that underwent only the initial steps of the siRNA induced degradation process.

Biological Procedures Online

To this end, we produced a modified construct that would only undergo the initial step of polyprotein processing.

Plosone

Therefore, p-values were used only as the initial step for the identification of positional candidate SNPs linked with resistance QTLs.

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In scientific or technical writing, ensure the subsequent steps are eventually defined to provide clarity to the reader.

Common error

Avoid combining it with other limiters like "just only the initial step". Choose one limiter to maintain professional conciseness. Additionally, do not confuse it with "the only initial step", which implies there was only one first step possible, rather than stating the first step is insufficient on its own.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "only the initial step" functions as a predicate nominative or a complement that limits the significance of a subject. The adverb "only" acts as a focusing modifier, while "initial" provides temporal or procedural sequencing. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it often follows a linking verb to set realistic expectations for a project or discovery.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Social Media

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "only the initial step" is a sophisticated tool for writers to indicate that a specific action is merely the prelude to a larger undertaking. Analysis from Ludwig confirms its status as a correct and highly effective expression, especially in Science and News & Media. While it shares a similar meaning with "just the first step", its use of the word "initial" lends it a more formal, structured tone. Whether you are discussing corporate liability, biological pathways or literary analysis, this phrase helps maintain a balanced perspective on progress by reminding the reader that a full development or recovery usually requires many more subsequent actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just the first step

uses a more common adverb and is slightly more conversational than initial

only the initial stage

replaces step with stage to emphasize a continuous process rather than a discrete action

merely the beginning

uses merely for a stronger sense of limitation and beginning for a broader temporal scope

only the starting point

suggests a conceptual or spatial origin rather than a procedural move

only a preliminary move

adds a more formal tone and suggests the action is a preparation for something larger

simply the opening phase

focuses on the chronological order using phase for complex operations

but an initial move

uses but as a limiting conjunction for a more literary or rhetorical effect

the first of many steps

explicitly states that there is a long sequence following the current action

only the groundwork

emphasizes the foundational nature of the step rather than just its sequence

just the tip of the iceberg

uses an idiom to imply that the vast majority of the work is still hidden or upcoming

FAQs

How to use "only the initial step" in a sentence?

You can use it to qualify an achievement by saying, for example: "Securing funding is "only the initial step" toward launching the product."

What can I say instead of "only the initial step"?

You can use alternatives like "just the first step", "only the starting point" or "merely the beginning" depending on your desired level of formality.

What is the difference between "only the initial step" and "the only initial step"?

The phrase ""only the initial step"" means that the step is just the start and more is needed. Conversely, "the only initial step" would suggest that out of many possible starting points, only one was chosen or exists.

Is "only the initial step" appropriate for academic papers?

Yes, it is highly appropriate. Ludwig shows frequent usage in scientific journals like "Nature" and "BMC Genomics" to describe research phases that require further validation or testing.