The First First Annual

Hello, you have A Way with Words.

Hi, this is Bob calling from Cedar Rapids.

Hello, Bob. Cedar Rapids, Iowa, huh?

That’s correct. How are you?

Doing fine. What’s going on there?

Well, I had a question about the phrase first annual.

I was working on a project, and everyone kind of got in a big argument about when to use that.

We were working on putting together an event, and it was the first time it had ever happened.

And the debate was whether to use first annual or is it just the event?

Because doesn’t it have to happen first to be called first annual?

First annual. And which side of the controversy did you come down on?

I thought that it would have to be the second event.

So the following year it could be called the first annual because it hadn’t happened.

It would have to happen first.

Okay, so what did you want to call it then the first year?

Just the name of the event.

I see.

I’m looking at Brian Garner’s book, Modern American Usage, and, I mean, we have a lot of admiration for his work, but I disagree with him.

He says this phrase expresses a promoter’s wish, not a fact.

An event that is held or occurs once a year is an annual event, but its first occurrence is not annual because it didn’t happen the previous year.

So he sides with you, but I think I would be yelling at both of you.

I mean, what’s wrong with expressing the wish?

That’s right.

I agree with you, Martha, completely on this one.

Yeah.

Okay, so it’s you and me against him and Brian, right?

I’m just going to say that first annual is an expression of will, of desire.

It’s optimistic.

We’re going to have another one of these.

We’re going to do this one so well and it’s going to be so successful that we’re going to have number two.

So this one is indeed the first annual.

Because if you do have the second one, actually the second one is the second annual, even if you didn’t call the first one the first annual.

Because the first one then automatically retroactively becomes annual.

I see where you’re coming from.

You see where he’s coming from, Bob?

Yes, I do.

And, I mean, what the world needs now is hope, sweet hope, right?

I mean, what’s wrong with first annual?

I mean, Bob, you do have grammatical firepower on your side, I have to say.

But I just don’t know.

Well, the other thing about this is there’s no misunderstanding.

If you say first annual, people still understand this is the first of the event,

The first time this event has happened.

Yeah.

First of its kind, right?

Yep.

So you might, I mean, what else are you going to say to indicate that it’s brand new and it’s the first?

The first ever, the first, I don’t know.

Yeah, that’s a good point.

And I’m glad, well, I guess it’s still not really cleared up, but I mean, since we’ve had the event,

Every time I see it, I’m like, oh, is that the correct way?

Is it not?

All right.

So you’ve got doubt.

You’re not 100% sure that you did the wrong thing or the right thing, right?

Yep.

Right.

The strict usage is first annual is going to get you in some jeopardy in formal documents,

But most of the world doesn’t care about it,

And some people like me and Martha will think that you are being optimistic if you use it.

That’s right, Bob.

Technically, you’re right, and we’re just bubble-headed optimists, I guess.

I don’t know why we’re bubble-headed.

Speak for myself.

Speak for yourself.

All right.

And you know to bubble-head anyway.

Well, Bob, it’s a great question.

I appreciate your calling.

A little frothy, maybe.

You bet.

Thank you.

Thank you, Bob.

All right.

Bye-bye.

Bye-bye.

Bye-bye.

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