Avoid adding -ly to ordinal numbers (EK00048)
Plain ordinals like first and second read more cleanly than firstly and secondly. Drop the -ly suffix so documentation steps and lists stay concise.
Plain ordinals such as first and second read more cleanly than firstly and secondly, especially in numbered steps. EkLine flags ordinal numbers that carry an “-ly” suffix and suggests the plain ordinal (rule EK00048).
Why use plain ordinals instead of firstly or secondly?
Section titled “Why use plain ordinals instead of firstly or secondly?”Forms like “firstly” and “secondly” add a syllable without adding meaning. Plain ordinals are shorter and match how readers scan a sequence of steps. Dropping the “-ly” suffix keeps enumerations consistent and removes a common source of wordiness in procedural writing.
What EkLine flags
Section titled “What EkLine flags”EK00048 detects ordinals with an “-ly” suffix such as firstly, secondly, and thirdly.
- ❌ Incorrect: Firstly, install the CLI.
- ✅ Correct: First, install the CLI.
- ❌ Incorrect: Secondly, add your API key.
- ✅ Correct: Second, add your API key.
How to fix
Section titled “How to fix”Remove the “-ly” suffix. Change “firstly” to “first” and “secondly” to “second”.
Is it “firstly” or “first” in documentation?
Section titled “Is it “firstly” or “first” in documentation?”Use “first”. Forms like “firstly” and “secondly” add a syllable without adding meaning, and plain ordinals match how readers scan a sequence.
What is a cleaner alternative to ordinal words?
Section titled “What is a cleaner alternative to ordinal words?”For a sequence of actions, use a numbered list. It makes the order visible and removes the need for “first” or “second” entirely.
Rule details
Section titled “Rule details”| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Rule ID | EK00048 |
| Category | Tone and voice |
| Default severity | Error |
| Enabled by default | Yes |
Ignore this rule
Section titled “Ignore this rule”To keep an ordinal adverb on one line, add an inline comment with a reason:
<!-- ekline-ignore-next-line EK00048 -- direct quotation -->"Firstly, thank you all for coming."To disable the rule across your project, add it to the ignore list in your configuration file.