Cool MateFirst of all vs Initially
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
First of all
Top 2,000 (common)
Initially
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
| First of all | Initially | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //fɜːst əv ɔːl//🇺🇸 //fɜrst əv ɔl// | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪˈnɪʃəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪˈnɪʃəli/"]/ |
| Meaning | To start with; the first point to mention. | At first; in the beginning. |
| Example | First of all, we need to discuss the budget for next year. | Initially, the system worked well. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | adverb | |
| Collocations | first of all, we need, first of all, let's discuss, first of all, thank you, first of all, I want to, first of all, remember | initially thought, initially planned, initially focused |
| Antonyms | - | finally, ultimately, later |
| Common mistakes | Using it in the middle of a sentence instead of at the beginning., Confusing with 'firstly', which is more formal., Omitting 'of all' and saying only 'first'. | Using 'initial' as an adverb instead of 'initially'., Confusing 'initially' with 'ultimately' (which has the opposite meaning)., Placing 'initially' in the wrong position in a sentence. |
| Usage notes | Often used to introduce the first point in a list. Appropriate in both spoken and written contexts. Avoid in very formal settings. | Use 'initially' to describe something that happens at the start. It’s suitable for both written and spoken English but is more common in formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: First of all vs Initially
What's the difference between First of all and Initially?
First of all: To start with; the first point to mention. Initially: At first; in the beginning.
Can you show an example of each?
First of all: First of all, we need to discuss the budget for next year. Initially: Initially, the system worked well.
Can I use First of all and Initially interchangeably?
Not always. First of all and Initially are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.