For starters vs Initially

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

For starters

Top 2,000 (common)

Initially

Top 2,000 (common) B2 adverb

	For starters	Initially
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //fɔː ˈstɑːtəz// 🇺🇸 //fɔr ˈstɑrtɚz//	🇬🇧 /["/ɪˈnɪʃəli/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ɪˈnɪʃəli/"]/
Meaning	To begin with; as a first point.	At first; in the beginning.
Example	For starters, we need to address the budget issue.	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	for starters, use for starters, say for starters	initially thought, initially planned, initially focused
Antonyms	-	finally, ultimately, later
Common mistakes	Using it in overly formal situations., Confusing it with 'for start' which is incorrect., Not using it when listing multiple points.	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	Use 'for starters' when introducing a list or an initial example. It's appropriate in both spoken and written English but can be too informal for very formal contexts.	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.

See it in real clips

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

Come on. Let's just make it down the hill for starters.

How I Met Your Mother › S1 E1

For starters.

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

Come on. Let's just make it down the hill for starters.

How I Met Your Mother › S1 E1

For starters.

For starters

Frequently asked questions: For starters vs Initially

What's the difference between For starters and Initially?

For starters: To begin with; as a first point. Initially: At first; in the beginning.

Can you show an example of each?

For starters: For starters, we need to address the budget issue. Initially: Initially, the system worked well.

Can I use For starters and Initially interchangeably?

Not always. For starters 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.