what was initially

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what was initially" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to something that was true or the case at the beginning of a situation or process. An example is: "What was initially a small project grew into a large initiative." Alternative expressions include "what was originally" and "what was first."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But what was needed for the buildings and what was initially required?

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

He was hauled out with what was initially reported to be a dislocated shoulder.

The New York Times

What was initially a piecemeal experiment in community building became a bohemian enclave.

The New York Times - Arts

He stole third base on what was initially scored a wild pitch.

The New York Times

The account recasts what was initially portrayed as the tragic accidental killing of Flonarza Byas, 28.

The New York Times

Then she became sick with what was initially diagnosed in California as an upper respiratory infection.

The New York Times

Expansion added 468,000 people to the Illinois Medicaid rolls, twice what was initially projected.

The Washington Post

What was initially a moral transgression in using drugs has raged into a terrible fire.

The New York Times - Sports

After extended cycling of what was initially a 1.5 μm thick fully dense alloy film, the sample structure becomes analogous to that of a weakly agglomerated nanocomposite powder.

Acta Materialia

It is a world away from the crassness of what was initially billed as a "romantic ruse".

The Guardian

As published, the SEC's new guidelines fall far short of what was initially sought by Arthur Levitt, the SEC's chairman.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Place this phrase at the beginning of a sentence to establish the historical context before delivering the 'turn' or final result.

Common error

Do not pair "what was initially" with other words that mean 'the start', such as 'initially first' or 'initially originally'. The word 'initially' already sufficiently establishes the starting point. Using more than one temporal marker of the same type makes the sentence cluttered and unprofessional.

Linguistic Context

The phrase functions as a nominal relative clause (also known as a fused relative clause). In this structure, 'what' acts as both the relative pronoun and the antecedent. It typically serves as the subject or object of a main clause. According to Ludwig AI, it is frequently followed by a passive verb form or a predicate nominative to define an earlier state.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "what was initially" is an essential tool for any writer looking to describe change over time. Whether you are reporting on a medical diagnosis that evolved, a business project that grew in scope or a scientific theory that was refined, this phrase provides a clear and professional way to bridge the gap between 'then' and 'now'. Ludwig AI identifies this phrase as a hallmark of high-quality journalism and academic research, appearing thousands of times in reputable sources. It is most effective when followed by a sharp contrast, helping the reader understand the magnitude of an evolution or the correction of a previous misunderstanding. While synonyms like "<a href="/s/what+was+originally" target="_blank" rel="alternative">what was originally" are available, "what was initially" remains one of the most versatile and authoritative ways to introduce an initial state or hypothesis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what was originally

Interchangeable with a slightly stronger emphasis on the true origin or prototype.

what had been initially

Uses the past perfect to emphasize that the initial state is now fully completed or changed.

what started as

Focuses more on the process of evolution from a starting point.

what began as

Similar to 'started as' but often preferred in more formal or narrative writing.

what was at first

A slightly less formal variant that functions identically in most contexts.

what was first

Simpler chronological framing without the adverbial nuance of 'initially'.

what was once

Refers to a past state that may have lasted a long time rather than just the start.

what was previously

Refers to a prior state without necessarily implying it was the very first state.

what was formerly

More formal and often used for names, titles or static roles.

what was initially thought to be

Adds a layer of perception or belief vs. reality to the initial state.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "what was initially"?

Depending on your context, you can use synonyms like "<a href="/s/what+was+originally" target="_blank" rel="alternative">what was originally", "<a href="/s/what+started+as" target="_blank" rel="alternative">what started as" or "<a href="/s/what+began+as" target="_blank" rel="alternative">what began as".

How to use "what was initially" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe an evolution, such as: ""what was initially" a small pilot program has now expanded into a nationwide initiative."

Is "what was initially" formal enough for academic writing?

Yes, it is highly appropriate for formal contexts. Ludwig shows numerous examples from sources like <a href="/s/Nature" target="_blank" rel="alternative">Nature and <a href="/s/ScienceDirect" target="_blank" rel="alternative">ScienceDirect where it is used to describe experimental hypotheses and initial observations.

What's the difference between "what was initially" and "what was originally"?

The difference is minimal, but "<a href="/s/what+was+originally" target="_blank" rel="alternative">what was originally" often refers to the core intent or the 'original version', while "what was initially" focuses more strictly on the chronological starting point.