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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
was firstly proposed
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE 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
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
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].
Science
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].
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."
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.
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.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
was the first to propose
Restructures the sentence to emphasize the act of proposing something for the first time.
was initially suggested
Replaces 'firstly proposed' with 'initially suggested', implying a preliminary suggestion rather than a formal proposal.
was originally introduced
Uses 'originally introduced' to convey the concept's first appearance or introduction.
was first put forward
Employs 'first put forward' to indicate the initial presentation or proposition of an idea.
emerged as the initial concept
Focuses on the concept's initial emergence or appearance.
was the earliest proposal of
Emphasizes that it was the earliest known suggestion of something.
was pioneered by
Focuses on the person or group who initiated the concept or method.
was conceived by
Highlights the origin or creation of the idea by someone.
marks the inception of
Highlights the beginning or commencement of a concept or idea.
represents the dawn of
Conveys a sense of newness and the beginning of something significant.
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"?
You can use alternatives like "was initially suggested", "was originally introduced", or "was first put forward".
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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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
82%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested