Indledningsvis

Indledningsvis is a Danish adverb meaning “at the outset” or “initially.” It is used to introduce a statement, overview, or orientation at the beginning of a text, section, or argument, often signaling a formal or structured tone.

Etymology and cognates: The word combines indledning (introduction) with the adverbial suffix -vis, producing a form equivalent to “in an introductory way.” The concept is parallel in other Germanic languages; in Norwegian Bokmål, the corresponding form is innledningsvis, while Danish uses indledningsvis.

Usage: Indledningsvis frequently appears in formal Danish writing, including academic papers, reports, news analysis, speeches, and policy documents. It typically introduces a summary of the forthcoming points or outlines the structure of the discussion. Examples include: “Indledningsvis vil jeg præsentere forskningsresultaterne,” or “Indledningsvis skal det bemærkes, at undersøgelsen er begrænset til …” The word is most common at the start of a paragraph or section.

Register and alternatives: The term carries a formal register and is best suited for written texts. In less formal contexts, writers may use alternatives such as først, til at begynde med, eller som en innledning, though these do not carry exactly the same subtlety as indledningsvis. For Norwegian readers, innledningsvis serves the parallel function with the same introductory signaling purpose.

See also: introductory phrases, structuring markers, Danish discourse markers.