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New2grammar Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

start with/in the first place

0The meanings for the phrases "to start with" and "in the first place" are the same. Does that mean they are interchangable?0-
  

Top answer

0 01blockquote 01cite 10New2grammar12cite 10The meanings for the phrases "to start with" and "in the first place" are the same. 12br 12br 12blockquote 11b 01font 00In most contexts they are probably interchangeable. "02font 02b 02br 02br 01b 01font 00[End of conversation]02font 02b 0-

— Philip

  • 0 01blockquote 01cite 10New2grammar12cite 10The meanings for the phrases "to start with" and "in the first place" are the same.
  • 12br 12br 12blockquote 11b 01font 00In most contexts they are probably interchangeable.
  • "02font 02b 02br 02br 01b 01font 00[End of conversation]02font 02b 0-
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3 Answers
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0 01blockquote
01cite10New2grammar12cite10The meanings for the phrases "to start with" and "in the first place" are the same. Does that mean they are interchangable?12br
12br
12blockquote
11b01font00In most contexts they are probably interchangeable. However, when using either one, d
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0 My reaction was similar to Philip's. "in the first place" suggests that the first item of a multi-item list is about to be announced. I don't feel the same for "to start with" -- just the possibility of an "and then" later on.02br
02br
00 CJ0-
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0I think one of the meanings of these phrases is "the first item of a multi-item list". The other meaning does not seem to be related to multi-item list. For example,02br
02br
00How did I get infected 01b00in the first place02b00?02br
02br
00The meaning here is somewhat like 'initially' or 'in the beginning'. With this meaning, can I
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