[Intockatt]

Leave the thread NOW if you don't want to discuss grammar.

I've noticed that around here people have started saying "firstly" "secondly" "thirdly" etc. My impression (and what school taught me) was that the -ly on the end of the number is not necessary and should not be used. How was everyone else taught? I think you would sound like a donkey if you kept going with a list like that. It sounds much better to read/say "First" "Second" ... "Fourth" "Fifth" than saying "fourthly" "fifthly" ... "tenthly" etc.

[everlastinge]

firstly, I dont say that thank you
secondly, yeah I agree

[FourEsters]

Adding -ly to a number is accepted. But yes, you can use first as an adverb without adding the ly. Personally I'd hate to use it that way and would prefer: 'first of all' letting the other person know that I am now beginning a list- as in:
"First of all, donuts are better then nuts. Second of all, donuts..."

[Stivenslivakovishhhs]

I think you can use it in that context up to a point.

To me, I find anything past "secondly" to sound a bit weird. I guess people use it to stress out two points. I don't think I would ever use "thirdly" at all. But "firstly"and "secondly" I know I have used.

[GustavM]

I think you can use it in that context up to a point.

To me, I find anything past "secondly" to sound a bit weird. I guess people use it to stress out two points. I don't think I would ever use "thirdly" at all. But "firstly"and "secondly" I know I have used.

I think you're on the right path with that.

I'm not 100% sure, but I imagine using "First...Second...Third... etc etc etc" when listing a number of 'things.' When "Firstly...Secondly" are used, I picture an argument and a supporting argument.

Something like this...

"First, take out the garbage. Second, eat your breakfast. Third, play Doom for 12 hours. Fourth, go to school and learn something new. Fifth, come home and play Doom for 6 hours."

"Firstly, the garbage smells so foul that birds are actually falling from the sky and dying on the lawn. Secondly, I'm bigger than you, so do what I say and take out the garbage or I'm taking Doom away!"

That's how I would differentiate using the two forms. I can't foresee using "thirdly" all that often. It sounds strange to me, but that's a personal thing.

[clubcughSheet]

Probably can be used firstly and secondly, after that it sounds really odd....fourthly, fifthly

[Slchtjgb]

I've noticed this occuring on American news and TV programs, I suspect it is a regional thing. No offense to you guys, but I've heard some monsterous mutilations of the english language from Americans - many of them 'leading' politicians and I don't just mean the President.
personally, I use 'first, 'second, 'third', and so on unless I'm being pretentous when I'll use 'primus', 'secondus' and so on.

[zdoppiklonikaa]

Firstly is a perfectly legitimate word in the OED; it's an adverb, so it can be used to place more emphasis in a sentence.

[GustavM]

/me ponders funny variations:

Firstly of all,

First of allly, [thumbup]

[flanna.kersting]

I think you're on the right path with that.

I'm not 100% sure, but I imagine using "First...Second...Third... etc etc etc" when listing a number of 'things.' When "Firstly...Secondly" are used, I picture an argument and a supporting argument.

Something like this...

"First, take out the garbage. Second, eat your breakfast. Third, play Doom for 12 hours. Fourth, go to school and learn something new. Fifth, come home and play Doom for 6 hours."

"Firstly, the garbage smells so foul that birds are actually falling from the sky and dying on the lawn. Secondly, I'm bigger than you, so do what I say and take out the garbage or I'm taking Doom away!"

That's how I would differentiate using the two forms. I can't foresee using "thirdly" all that often. It sounds strange to me, but that's a personal thing.

I agree with this.

[Bonioners]

Its modern preferred usage is; first, secondly, thirdly

firstly, secondly and successive derivates are perfectly valid adverbs, and are listed in the English/Oxford and American Heritage dictionaries.
Websters dictionary also lists it;

Usage: Firstly. First is an adverb as well as an adjective. We should, therefore, say first, secondly, thirdly, and not firstly, secondly, etc

Date "firstly" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1258