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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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was firstly proposed

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was firstly proposed" is not correct in standard written English.
It is generally better to use "was first proposed" instead. Example: "The theory was first proposed in the early 20th century."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

This phenomenon was firstly proposed in [35].

This method was firstly proposed in [14].

The terminology of social computing was firstly proposed in 1994.

The use of channel rotation was firstly proposed in [8].

Regional matching scheme was firstly proposed by Faltemier et al. [4].

A gateway placement algorithm was firstly proposed based on multi-hop traffic weight.

Therefore, a novel architecture of IoV named CCN-IoV was firstly proposed.

Fuzzy c-means was firstly proposed by Dunn [29] and generalized by Bezdek [30].

Double-sided fuzzy chance-constrained programming (DFCCP) was firstly proposed by Fiedler et al. ([2006]).

It was firstly proposed by B. P. Raju in 1980's [4].

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Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

It is firstly proposed for delay-tolerant networks (DTN) [10].

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When citing the origin of an idea or method, provide a specific reference to the original publication or author.

Common error

Avoid using "firstly" as an adverbial form of "first" in phrases like "was firstly proposed." The correct and more common form is "was first proposed."

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

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

82%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase functions as a passive voice construction to indicate that a concept, method, or idea was introduced for the first time. However, due to the grammatical error with 'firstly', its effectiveness is diminished. As noted by Ludwig AI, "was first proposed" is preferable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

100%

Less common in

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was firstly proposed" is often used to indicate the origin of a concept or method, especially in scientific and technical contexts. However, as Ludwig AI points out, this phrasing is grammatically incorrect. The preferred and correct form is "was first proposed". While the intention is clear, using the incorrect form detracts from the overall quality of writing. Alternatives such as "was initially suggested" or "was originally introduced" can also be used to convey a similar meaning while maintaining grammatical accuracy. Be sure to cite sources correctly to give appropriate credit.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say something was proposed for the first time?

The correct phrasing is "was first proposed". While "firstly" can be used to enumerate points (e.g., "Firstly, we need to consider..."), it's not appropriate to describe the initial proposal of something.

What are some alternatives to "was firstly proposed"?

Is there a difference in meaning between "was firstly proposed" and "was first proposed"?

While the intended meaning is the same, "was firstly proposed" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "was first proposed".

Can I use "initially proposed" instead of "was first proposed"?

Yes, "initially proposed" is a suitable alternative. It conveys a similar meaning and is grammatically correct.

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Source & Trust

82%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: