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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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very initials

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "very initials" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is unclear when it would be appropriate to use this phrase due to its ambiguity. Example: "Please provide your very initials for verification." (This usage is awkward and unclear.)

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

His very initials revolted Mather.

News & Media

The New Yorker

Twenty-five yeago ago, when I was a junior flack at Hewlett-Packard, the very initials DEC struck terror in my workmates.

News & Media

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Fourth, a few studies have demonstrated that, to be successful, postconditioning should be initiated in the very initial minutes of reperfusion.

"We are talking about a process at its very initial stages," the statement read.

News & Media

The New York Times

"What we have seen is a program in the very initial stages of development," Dr. ElBaradei said of the Libyan effort.

News & Media

The New York Times

"We're at the very initial stages, but that will be the wave of the future in fashion retailing," he said.

News & Media

The New York Times

After applying for a separate warrant for Mr. Ouazzani's communications, they identified two additional conspirators and discovered they were "in the very initial stages" of the stock exchange bomb plot, he said.

News & Media

The New York Times

At a very initial stage of corrosion reaction, dissolved oxygen contributes to cathodic reaction, whereas H+ formed through Eqs.

In conclusion, the results showed that the soils were clearly in a very initial state of soil development.

Science

Geoderma

The very initial acceleration from thermal to supra-thermal energies at collisionless shocks is still under debate.

The results obtained allows to design some initial reference configurations with satisfactory cruise performance in this very initial stage of the design process.

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to someone's initials, ensure clarity by specifying "full initials" or "initials only" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "very initials" in formal writing. Instead, opt for clearer alternatives like "full initials" or simply "initials" to maintain precision and readability.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

95%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "very initials" functions as an adjective-noun combination, attempting to modify "initials" with an intensifier. However, as Ludwig AI points out, this usage is not grammatically correct or standard in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "very initials" is grammatically awkward and lacks clear meaning in standard English. Ludwig AI confirms that this usage is incorrect and suggests alternatives such as "full initials" or "exact initials" for better clarity. The phrase's limited occurrence primarily in News & Media indicates its non-standard nature. To ensure precision and readability, it is best to avoid "very initials" in formal writing.

FAQs

How can I use the word "initials" in a sentence?

You can use "initials" in a sentence like: "Please provide your initials to confirm the changes" or "The document was signed with the employee's initials".

Is there a difference between "initials" and "signatures"?

"Initials" are the first letters of a name used to represent a person, while "signatures" are a stylized representation of a person's full name. Signatures usually require more effort.

What is an alternative to saying "very initials"?

Since "very initials" is not standard, you can use alternatives like "full initials" or "exact initials" depending on the intended meaning.

When is it appropriate to ask for someone's initials?

It's appropriate to ask for someone's initials when you need a quick form of identification or confirmation, such as on a legal document or a form requiring acknowledgement of changes.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

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Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: