whichever is first

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "whichever is first" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to two or more options and indicating that the first one to occur or be selected will be the one that is chosen or acted upon. Example: "You can choose to submit your report by Friday or present it in the meeting on Monday, whichever is first."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

It starts from round of overs, say 35 or 40, whichever is first after they come in together.

Independent

(Works with corporate authorship are protected for a hundred and twenty years after creation or ninety-five yeafterfter publication, whichever is first).

The New Yorker

In most instances, the time to do so has expired under Massachusetts' statute of limitations, which allows six years in cases of indecent assault and battery and 15 years in cases of child rape (beginning with the accuser's 16th birthday or the initial report to the authorities, whichever is first).

The New York Times

But the events of FFS consist of locoregional relapse, distant metastasis or death, whichever is first.

British Journal of Cancer

Duration of response was defined as the period of time from when measurement criteria are met for CR or PR, whichever is first recorded, until the first date that recurrent or PD is objectively documented.

Cancer Medicine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"I'm just waiting to die, or for my wife to come back from Mantoloking — whichever's first," he says.

The New Yorker

Follow-up for cancer started at the date of first employment at Tornio Works, and ended at emigration, death or 31 December 2011, whichever was first.

BMJ Open

When examining 28-day mortality, patients were censored at the time of last contact alive or at 28 days from enrollment, whichever was first.

Critical Care

Person-time accrued from 1 January 1976 until diagnosis of RA, date of death, or the end of follow-up (31 May 2004), whichever was first.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Starting date was defined as date of first visit, stopping date as date of diagnosis of ovarian cancer (end point), date of BP(S O, or date of last screening visit, whichever was first.

British Journal of Cancer

Here, stopping date was defined as date of diagnosis of ovarian cancer, date of BP(S O, date of last complete screening visit plus 13 months, or date of last visit, whichever was first.

British Journal of Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "whichever is first", ensure that the context clearly defines the multiple options being presented and that there is a discernible order or sequence to their occurrence. This helps avoid ambiguity and ensures the reader understands which option will take precedence.

Common error

Avoid using "whichever is first" when the options are not mutually exclusive or when their order of occurrence is not relevant. This can lead to confusion and undermine the clarity of your message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "whichever is first" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by specifying a condition based on the order of occurrence. As Ludwig AI explains, it indicates a selection based on the initial event or option from a set of possibilities.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "whichever is first" serves as a conditional adverbial phrase used to prioritize options based on their order of occurrence. As Ludwig AI explains, it's grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, particularly in scientific and news reporting, though it's relatively rare. For example, "Duration of response was defined as the period of time from when measurement criteria are met for CR or PR, whichever is first recorded". When writing, ensure the options and their sequential relationship are clear to avoid ambiguity. Similar phrases like "whichever comes earlier" offer stylistic alternatives. While grammatically sound, its infrequent usage suggests considering context-appropriate alternatives for enhanced clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

whichever comes earlier

Focuses on the temporal aspect of which option precedes the other.

whichever is sooner

Emphasizes the reduced time frame of one option compared to others.

whichever is prior

Highlights the precedence or order of one option over another.

whichever takes precedence

Focuses on the order of importance or priority.

whichever is initially met

Focuses on the condition being satisfied by one option before others.

whichever materializes foremost

Stresses the actualization or realization of one option before the others.

whichever is at the front

Implies spatial or sequential positioning as the determining factor.

whichever is top of the list

Emphasizes the order by listing.

whichever is preeminent

Highlights the quality of surpassing all others in importance or status.

whichever is headmost

Highlights spatial or sequential positioning as the determining factor.

FAQs

How do I use "whichever is first" in a sentence?

Use "whichever is first" to indicate that the initial option to occur or become available from a list of possibilities should be selected. For example: "We'll leave on Friday or Saturday, "whichever is first"".

What's a good alternative to "whichever is first"?

Alternatives include "whichever comes earlier", "whichever is sooner", or "whichever takes precedence". The best choice depends on the context and the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "whichever is first" in formal writing?

Yes, "whichever is first" is appropriate in formal writing, especially when defining protocols or conditions where the order of events matters. However, ensure the surrounding language maintains a formal tone.

What's the difference between "whichever comes first" and "whichever is first"?

The phrases are nearly synonymous. "Whichever comes first" emphasizes the action of something 'coming' or occurring, while "whichever is first" focuses on the state of being in the initial position. The choice often depends on stylistic preference.