the first three ones

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'the first three ones' is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used when referring to three items you have already mentioned in a sentence or in a list of items. For example: "I need to buy three new books, so I'm going to read the reviews for the first three ones I find on the store's website."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The first three ones are St.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

After losing two of the first three one-day internationals on tour we definitely had a bit of a point to prove going into the Twenty20 series starting in Whangarei.

BBC

India have dropped batsman Virender Sehwag for the first three one-day internationals against England.

BBC

There will be no imminent chance to reach the feat after he was left out of India's squad for the first three one-day internationals with the Windies.

BBC

After seeing the first two ones, I was quarantined, and I went through the 21 days and was not infected.

Science Magazine

Reactions were found to be first order with respect to CO2 and second order with respect to amine for the first four ones and first order with respect to amine for the last one.

Chemical Engineering Science

The first two ones show connections to Eudorus' account of Pythagorean first principles; the whole system anticipates central ideas of the most important Neoplatonist, Plotinus (Dillon 1977, 346 351; Kahn 2001, 105 110).

SEP

The first four ones correspond to extracts obtained from P. sativa, the other two ones were extracted from B. vulgaris, and the last one was obtained from P. sativa in acidic solution diluted in ethanol and water mixture.

Journal of Theoretical and Applied Physics

Assuming that the two symbols contained in an STBC block have the same probability of error, the third term in (9) is negligible with respect to the first two ones.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

In short: there will be an annual application fee of $99 per app, but the first five ones (per developer) that find their way to the store are free of charge if submitted before the end of 2009.

TechCrunch

The first two ones are original (created for anime series), the ending themes for episodes 23 and 24 are adopted from visual novel.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "the first three ones", ensure the context clearly establishes what "ones" refers to, avoiding ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "the first three ones" without a clear antecedent for "ones". Always make sure the reader knows what you are referring to, such as "the first three books" or "the first three options."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the first three ones" functions as a determiner phrase, specifying a particular subset from a larger group. It identifies the initial three items out of those previously mentioned or understood within the context. Ludwig confirms that it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the first three ones" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to refer to the first three items in a previously defined group. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's most common in news, science, and wiki contexts. When using the phrase, ensure the reference is clear to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "the initial three" or "the first trio" can offer more concise options. Be cautious of instances of unclear or absent references, as a more specific noun may enhance clarity. Overall, while not as common as other phrases, "the first three ones" is an acceptable phrase for its intended purpose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the initial three

Simplifies the original phrase by removing "ones", focusing on the ordinality.

the first trio

Replaces "three ones" with a collective noun, implying a group of three.

the leading three

Focuses on the position or ranking of the items, suggesting they are in the forefront.

the foremost three

Similar to "leading three", but emphasizes prominence or importance.

the first three items

Adds specificity by explicitly stating "items", clarifying the reference.

the three earliest

Shifts focus to the time aspect, indicating the items appeared or occurred first.

the primary three

Highlights the importance or priority of the items within a larger set.

the top three

Indicates a ranking or selection based on a specific criterion, often numerical or qualitative.

the first group of three

Emphasizes that these are a group and the first among others

initially three

Focuses on the number that was available or considered at the beginning

FAQs

How can I use "the first three ones" in a sentence?

You can use "the first three ones" when referring back to a previously mentioned set of items. For example, "I have five apples, but I only want to eat "the first three ones"."

What is a good alternative to "the first three ones"?

Depending on the context, suitable alternatives include "the initial three", "the first trio", or simply "the first three items".

Is "the first three ones" grammatically correct?

Yes, "the first three ones" is grammatically correct, especially when "ones" clearly refers to a previously identified set of items. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, as shown by real examples.

When should I avoid using "the first three ones"?

Avoid using "the first three ones" if the reference is unclear or if a more specific noun can be used instead, such as "the first three chapters" or "the first three songs".