first, firstly

first, firstly
   The question of whether one may write firstly or not when beginning a list of points constitutes one of the more inane but most hotly disputed issues in the history of English usage. De Quincey called firstly "a ridiculous and most pedantic neologism," and the view has been widely echoed since, though what makes it so objectionable has never been entirely clear. Fowler, ever the cool head, should perhaps be allowed the final word on the matter: "The preference forfirst overfirstly in formal enumerations is one of the harmless pedantries in which those who like oddities because they are odd are free to indulge, provided that they abstain from censuring those who do not share the liking."
   A separate problem with first is seen here: "The Bangladesh government reacted angrily when plans for blood tests were first announced" (Independent). With words like announced, reported, revealed, and (especially) conceived and created, first is nearly always superfluous, sometimes glaringly so, and should be removed.

Dictionary of troublesome word. . 2013.

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  • first - firstly — The first thing, event, or person of a particular kind is the one that comes before all the others. The President went on the air to make his first public statement about Watergate. ...the first man in space. If you want to emphasize that a thing …   Useful english dictionary

  • first, firstly —    The question of whether one may write firstly or not when beginning a list of points constitutes one of the more inane but most hotly disputed issues in the history of English usage. De Quincey called firstly a ridiculous and most pedantic… …   Dictionary of troublesome word

  • first, firstly, secondly — All three of these terms are in acceptable use, but first is more common than firstly. A speaker or writer will often start with first and then move on to secondly and thirdly. Although these ly words are in respectable use, it is simpler and… …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • firstly — adverb /ˈfɜrstli/ In the first place; before anything else; first. Firstly, I continue to base most species treatments on personally collected material, rather than on herbarium plants. Secondly, I continue to base my concepts on intensive study… …   Wiktionary

  • first of all — adverb firstly; before anything else. Syn: first, firstly, first up …   Wiktionary

  • first off — adverb before anything else (Freq. 1) first we must consider the garter snake • Syn: ↑first, ↑firstly, ↑foremost, ↑first of all * * * adverb Etymology: first …   Useful english dictionary

  • first of all — adverb before anything else (Freq. 5) first we must consider the garter snake • Syn: ↑first, ↑firstly, ↑foremost, ↑first off * * * before doing anything else; at the beginning first of all, let me ask you something …   Useful english dictionary

  • firstly — See first, firstly, secondly …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • first — See first, firstly, secondly …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • first of all — to begin with, first, firstly …   English contemporary dictionary

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