what happens initially

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what happens initially" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the events or actions that occur at the beginning of a process or situation. Example: "In this experiment, we need to document what happens initially before any changes are made."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

A lot of what happens initially involves the question of whether a newcomer will be allowed to join.

The New York Times - Arts

I have talked about what happens initially, when drawing up Community texts, and what happens downstream, when they are implemented.

EU Parlament

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Which is what happened initially in Egypt, when Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood won Egypt's first democratic election.

Huffington Post

What happens is, initially, Peter and Mozzie [Willie Garson] both get behind [James reappearance]], and Mozzie is like, "Look, we're both orphans.

Huffington Post

Since there is evidence that obesity differs according to socio-economic status, race and other criteria, it is important to know what happens when, initially, there is segregation according to weight types.

BMJ Open

And what happens is when you initially set up your businesses these days, a lot of accountants are setting up small businesses with QuickBooks or Quicken programs, which are after all created by Intuit, which is almost a direct pipeline into TurboTax.

Forbes

"I couldn't foresee him being active when he was initially here, if this is what happens," Lewis said.

The New York Times

That's the timescale we initially worked to and we have to see what happens after that".

BBC

She initially resisted filing a complaint and told her managers: "I know what happens to women.

The New York Times

"Initially, I was open-minded, and I thought I'd see what happens," she says.

Science Magazine

Perhaps initially, in small numbers, but the majority will wait to see what happens next.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a series of events, use "what happens initially" to clearly delineate the starting point before discussing subsequent developments. This helps create a chronological structure for your audience.

Common error

Avoid focusing solely on "what happens initially" without considering the downstream consequences. Ensure you provide a balanced perspective by also addressing how initial events influence later stages.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what happens initially" functions as a relative clause introducing a description of events or actions that occur at the beginning of a process or situation. Ludwig AI confirms this is a correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "what happens initially" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that serves to introduce the commencement of events or actions. As Ludwig AI confirms, its straightforward nature allows for versatile application across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. While appropriate for both formal and informal settings, consider more elevated alternatives like "what occurs at first" to align with the specific register of your writing. Understanding the nuances of its usage ensures clarity and precision in conveying the progression of events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what occurs at first

Replaces "happens initially" with a more formal alternative.

what transpires in the beginning

Uses "transpires" for a more elevated tone and emphasizes the start.

what unfolds at the start

Focuses on the unfolding nature of events from the beginning.

what takes place early on

Emphasizes the early timeframe of the events.

what comes about at the outset

Replaces "happens" with "comes about" and uses "outset" for beginning.

what develops in the early stages

Highlights the developing nature of events in their initial phase.

what emerges at inception

A formal alternative, using "emerges" and "inception" for a sense of origination.

what materializes at the kickoff

More informal, using "kickoff" to suggest a starting point.

what presents itself at the dawn

Uses a metaphorical "dawn" to represent the beginning.

what gets underway to begin with

More conversational, emphasizing the initiation of an activity.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "what happens initially" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives such as "what occurs at first", "what transpires in the beginning", or "what comes about at the outset". These options provide a similar meaning with a heightened level of formality.

Is it correct to use "what happens initially" in academic writing?

Yes, "what happens initially" is grammatically correct and can be used in academic writing. However, ensure that it fits the overall tone and formality of your piece. More formal alternatives like "what occurs at first" might be more suitable depending on the context.

What's the difference between "what happens initially" and "what happens next"?

"What happens initially" refers to the very first events or actions that take place. In contrast, "what happens next" refers to the subsequent events that follow the initial occurrences. Use "what happens next" to continue a narrative or process after establishing the starting point.

Can I use "what happens initially" interchangeably with "what is the initial reaction"?

While related, they aren't always interchangeable. "What happens initially" describes the events that unfold at the beginning, whereas "what is the initial reaction" focuses specifically on the response or reaction to something at the start. The best choice depends on whether you want to describe events or responses to events.