when I first encountered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "when I first encountered" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the initial experience or meeting with a person, concept, or situation. Example: "When I first encountered the concept of artificial intelligence, I was fascinated by its potential."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Books

Arts

Lifestyle

Travel

Opinion

Food

Music

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This was when I first encountered him.

The Guardian

That's when I first encountered Petty Officer Hickman.

The New York Times - Tech

" Edgerton is still as matey as when I first encountered him for Warrior.

Independent

When I first encountered him, in Boston in the mid-nineties, I found him off-putting.

The New Yorker

I didn't really give it much thought when I first encountered it years ago.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I remember the exact date when I first encountered this exotic name: October 9, 1966.

The New Yorker

It's my own fault – I hadn't researched Eugene's work well enough when I first encountered him.

The Guardian

It didn't seem so to me when I first encountered him.

The Guardian - Books

When I first encountered Buddhist thought in my 20s, I was so confused.

The New York Times

I didn't like Madame Bovary when I first encountered the book as a teenager.

The Guardian - Books

Woods was definitely not a regular guy when I first encountered him in 1992.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To add narrative depth, follow "when I first encountered" with specific details about the setting, emotions, or circumstances surrounding the encounter.

Common error

Avoid using "when I first encountered" in highly formal or academic writing where a more objective or impersonal tone is required. Opt for phrases like "upon initial examination" or "during the preliminary investigation" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when I first encountered" functions as an introductory clause, setting the stage for a personal narrative or providing context for a subsequent statement. Ludwig provides several examples demonstrating its use in various situations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Arts

15%

Books

13%

Less common in

Food

1%

Opinion

1%

Lifestyle

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "when I first encountered" is a versatile phrase used to introduce personal anecdotes and experiences, as affirmed by Ludwig. While grammatically sound and widely used, its formality level is neutral, so its appropriateness depends on the writing context. As Ludwig confirms, this phrase is particularly frequent in news, arts, and books categories. When aiming for formality, alternative phrases such as "upon initial inspection" may be more suitable. Ultimately, this phrase is a reliable way to frame initial experiences in narrative writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

when I initially met

Simplifies "encountered" to "met", making it more direct.

the first time I came across

Uses "came across" instead of "encountered", making it less formal.

upon my initial meeting with

More formal and emphasizes the meeting aspect.

the day I discovered

Emphasizes the discovery aspect.

at our first meeting

Focuses on the first meeting directly.

my initial experience with

Highlights the experience rather than the meeting.

my introduction to

Highlights the moment of introduction.

when I began to know

Focuses on the beginning of a relationship or understanding.

as I started to become familiar with

Focuses on the process of becoming familiar.

at the dawn of my acquaintance with

More literary and emphasizes the start of a friendly relationship.

FAQs

How can I use "when I first encountered" in a sentence?

Use "when I first encountered" to describe your initial experience with a person, concept, or thing. For example, "When I first encountered the concept of quantum physics, I was completely baffled."

What are some alternatives to "when I first encountered"?

You can use alternatives like "the first time I came across", "upon my initial meeting with", or "at our first meeting" to express a similar idea.

Is it appropriate to use "when I first encountered" in formal writing?

While generally acceptable, "when I first encountered" might be too informal for some academic or professional contexts. Consider using more formal phrases like "upon initial inspection" or "during the preliminary stage" in those situations.

What's the difference between "when I first encountered" and "when I first met"?

"When I first encountered" implies an initial experience or discovery, not necessarily with a person, while "when I first met" specifically refers to meeting a person for the first time.