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Snarf Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

First vs. Firstly

Hello. Is it ever correct to start off a sentence with "Firstly" (as in first of all) or "Secondly," or is it always supposed to be "First" or "Second"? I've seen it both ways so many times and once read that it's wrong to have them as adverbs; that's why I ask.

Thanks.
  

Top answer

Yes it is correct. Well, I'm not native enlish I'm learning english language but I think that it is correct to start with these adverbs. Examples: There are two things that I like here.

— Yiannis Tsimogiannis

  • Yes it is correct.
  • Well, I'm not native enlish I'm learning english language but I think that it is correct to start with these adverbs.
  • Examples: There are two things that I like here.
  • Firstly the nice and talkative community and secondly the well categorized forum.
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5 Answers
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Yes it is correct. Well, I'm not native enlish I'm learning english language but I think that it is correct to start with these adverbs.
Examples:
There are two things that I like here. Firstly the nice and talkative community and secondly the well categorized forum.
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"Firstly" is in common usage, so I think it's fine as informal speech.
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Firstly, secondly, lastly, etc., are ugly forms and are never necessary. The forms without -ly are already adverbs, so the suffix is redundant.
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SnarfIs it ever correct to start ...
It's not incorrect, but most grammarians advise "First" instead of "Firstly".

CJ
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Thank you, I agree. I am very tired of seeing "firstly" used in scientific papers I review.
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