can you start an essay with firstly

To begin. One reason is. Another reason is. Finally. Most importantly. Lastly. The preferred version is "first of all," which would go on to be "second of all" and "third of all.". We can use them when we want to list things in order, and they all work much better in writing than "firstly," "secondly," and "thirdly.".

What to Say Instead of "Firstly, Secondly, Thirdly". 1. First of All. "First of all" is a great way to replace "firstly" at the start of a list. We recommend using it to show that you have more points to make. Usually, it implies you start with the most important point. Here are some examples to show you how it works:

Firstly is a longer word with an extra syllable. Shorter is often better in writing, speaking, and reading. Firstly is an uncommon word. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but in this case, using it could make it seem as if you are trying to hide a point or "dress up" an otherwise lacking idea. In other words, it's distracting.

Overusing "firstly": One common mistake is overusing "firstly" in a list or sequence. It's important to remember that "firstly" should only be used when there is a subsequent "secondly," "thirdly," and so on. If there is no need for additional points, it is more appropriate to use "first" or "first of all" instead.

Should I Use Firstly, Secondly, Thirdly? "Firstly," "secondly," and "thirdly" are superfluous terms. "First," "second," and "third" are more acceptable words for enumerating text in writing. Experts also prefer "first" even if the other items state "secondly" and "thirdly.". For example: "First, check if ...

Font size: You should use first, second, and third to show textual enumerations in your writing. Many authorities prefer first, not firstly, even when the remaining items or points are introduced with secondly and thirdly. Example: First, through practice you will develop a better style. Second, your readers will appreciate your efforts.

You would never say firstly come, firstly served or at firstly glance. Whichever approach you choose, avoid blending your techniques. For instance, using firstly then using second and third, will open you up to criticism, even if there is no stringent rule to stop you. When to Use "At First" At first is not used to itemize points as first ...

Firstly is an adverb that indicates the first item in a list or sequence of actions. It is often used as a transitional word to introduce a series of points or arguments. For example, "We need to analyze the problem. Secondly, we need to come up with a solution. Thirdly, we need to implement the solution.".

State an Interesting Fact About Your Subject "The peregrine falcon was brought back from the brink of extinction by a ban on DDT, but also by a peregrine falcon mating hat invented by an ornithologist at Cornell University.If you cannot buy this, Google it. Female falcons had grown dangerously scarce. A few wistful males nevertheless maintained a sort of sexual loitering ground.

When you use firstly vs. first, it adds unnecessary length to a sentence. Keep text short and sweet by using first instead of firstly. Remember, you want to impress people with your ideas not with the length of your words. Second, the - ly forms of number words get awkward once you get up to a certain number (e.g., tenthly and eleventhly ).

Looking to enhance your writing skills? Understanding how to use transition words like "firstly" can greatly improve the flow and organization of your writing. "Firstly" is a transition word that is used to introduce the first point or argument in a series of points or arguments. By using "firstly" in your writing, you can clearly… Read More »FIRSTLY in a Sentence Examples: 21 ...

What to Know. When used to begin a list of two or more things, there is a strong preference for first over firstly today, but this preference is one of custom and usage, not grammar. Both first and firstly can function as adverbs, but they are not completely interchangeable; for example, we never say "firstly of all.".

Second, it is considered better writing style in English to use shorter words, so firstly may be considered bad prose style by some writers. Third, firstly cannot be used in all of the ways that first can. You can say first of all, but not firstly of all, and you can say at first, but not at firstly, etc. In fact, the only way you can use the ...

First, firstly or at first ? - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary

The use of firstly is more formal. Similarly, you can also use second, third, etc. instead of secondly, thirdly, etc. to refer to further points or statements. As for the sentence presented by the OP, it's not appropriate to use first or firstly in the sentence as you have only one point to refer to, not a series of points.

Firstly, Secondly, Lastly, But consider that we have only two points, are we going to use. There are a few pieces of information we need to notice: Firstly, Secondly, or. There are a few pieces of information we need to notice: Firstly, Lastly, It seems like firstly→secondly does not have an ending, and firstly→lastly seems to be too fast ...

Reply reply. [deleted] I always use it, for the start of each main point I do firstly, secondly, thirdly, and you bet I would say fourthly, fifthly, sixthly etc if my essay was that long. It sounds neat to use numbers to show where a new 'main' idea starts. Nobody has said anything to me yet.

Don't use Firstly, Secondly, Thirdly when you write an essay ️

Essay Writing Tip 3 - Make your essay laser-focused. Don't literally write an essay on lasers. Instead, make sure that your essay is incredibly focused, since this will stop your work from trying to take on too much. Make sure you answer the question, but don't be afraid to take a narrow focus.

Even a Little Bit of Expertise Can Go a Long Way. My usual approach to helping students get past this floundering stage is to tell them to avoid thinking up a study altogether. Instead, I tell ...