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Bookmark or Share- Does *first of all* always go with *second of all*?The introduction "Firstly,", which is considered less formal, is sometimes used as a compromise when "First of all," is too strong but "First," seems understated. Second, many people consider "Second," as a more correct or formal method to introduce the second point, but many people use "Secondly,".
- word request - “Firstly, secondly, thirdly,…”, what comes next ..."Firstly, it is worth saying that just one model has suggested the North West has an R number of above one." BBC News "And secondly, we are seeing a change in the nature of surveillance from over the skin surveillance to under the skin surveillance." Al Jazeera
- grammaticality - "first done" vs "firstly done" - English Language ...In modern times, "firstly" in this context is rarely used. From Merriam-Webster:. Even though they are both adverbs, first and firstly are hardly interchangeable in all situations: we never say “firstly of all” or “I firstly noticed it yesterday,” but these differences amount to idiomatic usage—the habits of centuries—and not grammar.
- Is it correct in formal writing to use Firstly alone?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.
- Can I use "First, ... Secondly, ... Finally, ... " like thisThe words first, secondly, finally are called linking words. They introduce the sequence of events in a story, narration, etc.
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