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Commonly Confused Words
Firsthand/First hand
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Firsthand vs. First hand
Firsthand
/ˌfɜː(r)stˈhænd/
Obtained directly by seeing or experiencing something yourself
Examples:
Synonyms:
direct
immediate
personal
Antonyms:
indirect
secondhand
mediated
First hand
/ˈfɜrst ˈhænd/
Experiencing something directly by oneself, without any intermediary.
Examples:
Synonyms:
direct
immediate
personal
Antonyms:
indirect
Ways to tell them apart:
Firsthand
is a single word, while
first hand
is two separate words.
Both versions sound the same but their meanings and usage are slightly different.
Remember that
firsthand
typically refers to information that is acquired directly.
First hand
is less commonly used and usually refers to physical positioning or literal hand placement.
If you
re referring to experience or information, you
re more likely looking for
firsthand
.
When to use firsthand:
When to use first hand:
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