a preliminary action

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a preliminary action" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to an initial step or measure taken before a main action or event occurs. Example: "Before we proceed with the main project, we need to complete a preliminary action to gather all necessary data."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

A Federal judge, in a preliminary action, turned down yesterday an attack on the X rating of movies that exclude children under 17.

The New York Times

The cabinet endorsed a Conservative proposal to impose, for the first year at least, a 5 percent cut in all ministers' salaries -- a preliminary action by the new government, which intends to move more rapidly than the former Labour government to cut the country's staggering $240-billion 240-billioncit.

The New York Times

The French Army of Switzerland and the Army of the Danube, now both under the command of Masséna, tried to prevent this merger of the Austrian forces; in a preliminary action at Winterthur, the Austrians succeeded in pushing the French forces out of Winterthur, although they took high casualties.

Wikipedia

A preliminary action research project was conducted with the LRH CAMHS clinicians to encourage clinician input and engagement in the design of the project.

BMC Psychiatry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Particularly, calcium alkoxides, acting as precursors of corresponding carbonate [14,15], can be considered for stone strengthening as an indispensable and essential preliminary action for its conservation, as demonstrated within the bilateral Italian-French GALILEO Project [16].

Heritage Science

The aim was for steering groups to capture the multidisciplinary sharing of experiences, support, and reflective practice, which was an important component of the preliminary action research study.

British Medical Journal

Belgian newspapers, emboldened by a court victory against Google last year, have started a preliminary copyright action against the European Commission over links on agency Web sites.

The New York Times

A preliminary class action lawsuit settlement with Facebook allows users to opt-out of being included in the "sponsored stories" ads that use their personal information.

Huffington Post

President Obama ordered new economic sanctions Friday against North Korea aimed at increasing financial pressure on the rogue state's leadership, a preliminary retaliatory action by the administration in response to what it calls the "destructive and coercive" cyberattack on Sony Pictures Entertainment computers.

Los Angeles Times

ESPN screened the preliminary action from the entire World Series (a seven-week jamboree of more than 40 tournaments) over the past few months, essentially serving as a trailer to its final table coverage, hyped beyond hype and screened on Tuesday night, about 15 hours after the live action wrapped.

The Guardian - Sport

By then he was no longer thinking in terms of music alone; he was looking forward to an all-embracing "Mystery". This work was planned to open with a "liturgical act" in which music, poetry, dancing, colours, and scents were to unite to induce in the worshipers a "supreme, final ecstasy". He wrote the poem of the "Preliminary Action" of the "Mystery" but left only sketches for the music.

Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a preliminary action", ensure it's clear what larger action it precedes. This provides context and emphasizes its purpose.

Common error

Avoid using "a preliminary action" without specifying what it is preliminary to. This can leave the reader wondering about the overall goal or process.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a preliminary action" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies an initial step or measure undertaken before a more significant event or process. This is supported by Ludwig AI, which indicates correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a preliminary action" is a grammatically sound phrase used to denote an initial step or measure before a main event. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. Though relatively rare, it appears across various domains, notably news, science and wiki, with a neutral-to-formal register. Related phrases offer alternative ways to express this concept. When using the phrase, ensure the broader context is clear. While "preliminary action" might seem somewhat redundant, the usage is generally accepted and aids clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an initial measure

Replaces 'preliminary' with 'initial', emphasizing the start of a process.

a preparatory step

Substitutes 'action' with 'step', highlighting the sequential nature of the process.

a preceding activity

Uses 'preceding' to indicate temporal order and 'activity' as a broader term for action.

a groundwork initiative

Implies the establishment of a foundation for future actions.

a first move

Simplifies the phrase, focusing on the concept of initiating something.

a beginning phase

Highlights that it's the start of something bigger.

a starting point

Focuses on the commencement or origin of a process.

an early intervention

Suggests an action taken to influence the outcome of a situation at its early stages.

a test run

Implies an experimental or trial action to assess feasibility or effectiveness.

a pilot project

Indicates a small-scale, initial project to evaluate the potential for a larger implementation.

FAQs

How can I use "a preliminary action" in a sentence?

You can use "a preliminary action" to describe an initial step taken before a more significant action. For example, "Filing the paperwork is "a preliminary action" before the lawsuit can proceed."

What are some alternatives to "a preliminary action"?

Some alternatives to "a preliminary action" include "an initial measure", "a preparatory step", or "a groundwork initiative". The best choice depends on the context.

Is it redundant to say "preliminary action"?

While "preliminary" implies that it comes before something else, using "action" clarifies that it's not just a thought or plan, but something actively being done. The redundancy, if any, is minimal and often useful for clarity.

What's the difference between "a preliminary action" and "a preliminary study"?

"A preliminary action" refers to an initial deed or task performed, while "a preliminary study" suggests an initial assessment or investigation. The first involves doing, the second involves learning.