Cool MateFirst of all vs Initially vs Primarily
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
First of all
Top 2,000 (common)
Initially
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
Primarily
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
| First of all | Initially | Primarily | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //fɜːst əv ɔːl//🇺🇸 //fɜrst əv ɔl// | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪˈnɪʃəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪˈnɪʃəli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/praɪˈmerəli//ˈpraɪmərəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/praɪˈmerəli/"]/ |
| Meaning | To start with; the first point to mention. | At first; in the beginning. | mainly; for the most part |
| Example | First of all, we need to discuss the budget for next year. | Initially, the system worked well. | a course designed primarily for specialists |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | adverb | 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 | primarily concerned, primarily focused, primarily used, primarily for, primarily about |
| Antonyms | - | finally, ultimately, later | secondarily, incidentally, subordinately |
| 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. | Confused with 'principally' which has a similar meaning but different usage., Using it in a negative context incorrectly, such as saying 'not primarily' when 'not mainly' is clearer., Incorrectly placing 'primarily' at the end of 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. | Use 'primarily' when you want to focus on the main reason or purpose; it's suitable in both spoken and written English but is more common in formal contexts than casual conversation. |
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Frequently asked questions: First of all vs Initially vs Primarily
What's the difference between First of all, Initially, and Primarily?
First of all: To start with; the first point to mention. Initially: At first; in the beginning. Primarily: mainly; for the most part
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. Primarily: a course designed primarily for specialists
Can I use First of all, Initially, and Primarily interchangeably?
Not always. First of all, Initially, and Primarily 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.