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Master confusing words with ease

First vs. Firstly

First

/fɜːst/

Coming before all others in time or order

Examples:

This is my first car.She was first in the race.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Firstly

/ˈfɜːstli/

Used to introduce the first point or reason in a series.

Examples:

Firstly, wash your hands before cooking.Firstly, I’d like to thank everyone for coming.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Ways to tell them apart:

First can be used as both an adjective and an adverb, adding flexibility in sentence structure.
Firstly is specifically an adverb, often used to introduce the first point in a series.
Firstly might seem more formal, especially in structured writing or speeches.
When listing points, firstly might be preferred for maintaining parallel structure with secondly, thirdly, etc.
Using first can make the sentence sound more conversational compared to firstly.

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