First = In the first place = First and foremost (at the beginning of paragraphs)???
A.E lover
When I present some ideas, I usually use "Firstly, secondly, lastly"
at the beginning of each paragraph. Can I replace with "In the first
place, in the second place, in the last place"?
"First and foremost" "Second but no less crucial" "Last but not the
least".
Do they all have the same idea?
Thank you.
AELOVER.
Mark Brader
> at the beginning of each paragraph. Can I replace with "In the first
> place, in the second place, in the last place"?
That would be unusual -- "in the first place" is common, but not the
other forms.
> "First and foremost" "Second but no less crucial" "Last but not the
> least".
The correct expression is "last but not least". But you should not
make heavy use of expressions like this. Calling importance to all
three items as if each was the most important doesn't work well.
If I was going to use expressions like these, I would most likely use
"First, second, finally". But it's a matter of style.
--
Mark Brader, Toronto | "I can't tell from this... whether you're
m...@vex.net | a wise man or a wise guy." --Ted Schuerzinger
My text in this article is in the public domain.
Mike Lyle
[...]
>> "First and foremost" "Second but no less crucial" "Last but not the
>> least".
>
> The correct expression is "last but not least". But you should not
> make heavy use of expressions like this. Calling importance to all
> three items as if each was the most important doesn't work well.
I'd add that a foreign speaker probably shouldn't use these clichés at
all. We would use them, if ever, only with a smile, and the ability to
judge the right situation for that kind of thing comes only after years
of experience.
>
> If I was going to use expressions like these, I would most likely use
> "First, second, finally". But it's a matter of style.
Yes. Keep it simple.
--
Mike.
--
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Evan Kirshenbaum
> Mark Brader wrote:
> [...]
>>> "First and foremost" "Second but no less crucial" "Last but not
>>> the least".
>>
>> The correct expression is "last but not least". But you should not
>> make heavy use of expressions like this. Calling importance to all
>> three items as if each was the most important doesn't work well.
>
> I'd add that a foreign speaker probably shouldn't use these clichés
> at all. We would use them, if ever, only with a smile, and the
> ability to judge the right situation for that kind of thing comes
> only after years of experience.
I'd say that the second one has less of a smile to it, as it indicates
that the list should not be taken as an ordering of importance, as it
often would be. I'd usually phrase it as "second, but no less
important".
--
Evan Kirshenbaum +------------------------------------
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