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# secondly

adverb (secondly)

«secondly» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Secondly means «in the second place» and is used to give the second point in a list of reasons or steps, after «firstly» or «first». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/secondly/#m1)
2. It helps a reader or listener follow an argument step by step. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/secondly/#m2)

### In the lessons

In English lessons it is a linking word (a connective) for writing explanations, arguments and instructions: firstly, secondly, thirdly, finally. In maths it helps explain methods: «Firstly, add the tens; secondly, add the ones.» Phrases: firstly … secondly … finally; and secondly.

### Examples

- Firstly, wash your hands; secondly, put on your apron. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/secondly/#x1)
- I can't come, firstly because I'm ill and secondly because it's raining. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/secondly/#x2)
- Secondly, multiply the answer by three. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/secondly/#x3)
- Schools should have longer breaks: firstly, we need exercise; secondly, we learn better after playing. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/secondly/#x4)
- Secondly, the knight rescued the dragon instead of fighting it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/secondly/#x5)
- In my persuasive letter, I wrote my second reason after «secondly». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/secondly/#x6)
- Secondly, check your answer by doing the opposite operation. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/secondly/#x7)

### Note

Use «secondly» or «second» to start the second point; both are correct. Put a comma after it at the start of a sentence. It does not mean «in a second» (quickly). Do not mix «first» with «secondly» in careful writing; use «firstly … secondly» or «first … second».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «secondly» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/secondly/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«secondly» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/secondly.html) on Mova free.