a preliminary conclusion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a preliminary conclusion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing an initial finding or judgment that is subject to further analysis or confirmation. Example: "After reviewing the data, we have reached a preliminary conclusion that further investigation is needed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

A summary of these concessions will be sent to rivals and their lawyers, after which the commission will draft a preliminary conclusion to its investigation.

The New York Times

A preliminary conclusion from those shards, other Navy officials said, was that the attack was not carried out from a Zodiac-type rubber inflatable as originally believed, but from a boat with a white fiberglass hull.

The New York Times

WASHINGTON — American solar panel manufacturers won a round against China on Friday when the United States International Trade Commission reached a preliminary conclusion that they were being harmed by imports.

The New York Times

Ms. Torres said investigators could reach a preliminary conclusion about whether Google has violated European competition law over the course of next year, and possibly within "a few months," Ms. Torres said.

The New York Times - Tech

A draft report shared with Congressional aides last fall had a preliminary conclusion that rare earths were very important but suggested that the department's contractors continue to be allowed to buy them from any source.

The New York Times

In a report released on Friday, staff members firmed up a preliminary conclusion they had reached after a study that any environmental effects from the pipeline could be reduced to "less than significant" levels.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

A striking preliminary conclusion from the studies discussed here is that lifespan and cancer incidence of circadian mutant lines under baseline conditions appear to be poorly predictive of each other or of responses to genotoxic stress and irradiation [ 22, 33, 49, 50].

Aging

Bradley Manning came to a key (if preliminary) conclusion this week, with Judge Denise Lind announcing a verdict that contained both good and bad news for Manning: He has been found innocent of the very serious charge of "aiding the enemy," but guilty of 19 other lesser counts.

TechCrunch

Although there are some clear limitations (heterogeneity and publication bias) in this study, a tentative and preliminary conclusion can be reached, that psychological interventions of depression and anxiety are effective for Chinese cancer patients.

BMC Cancer

Here are a few preliminary conclusions: 1. Anything can be a bookstore.

The New York Times

A bit of promising news is the preliminary conclusion of a large-scale, multi-center efficacy trial in people 65 or older of a vaccine formulation that contained four times the amount of antigen (the stuff against which the immune response is targeted).

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a preliminary conclusion" to set expectations in reports or presentations, signaling that the findings are not yet definitive and further investigation is underway.

Common error

Avoid presenting "a preliminary conclusion" as an absolute fact. Always contextualize it as an initial assessment open to revision to maintain accuracy and avoid misleading your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a preliminary conclusion" functions as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It indicates an initial assessment or judgment that is subject to change upon further investigation. Ludwig AI confirms its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a preliminary conclusion" is a noun phrase denoting an initial, tentative judgment or finding that requires further investigation. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across diverse fields, including news, science, and formal business settings. While grammatically correct and commonly used, it's vital to present it as subject to change, avoiding its misrepresentation as a definitive statement. Related phrases offer similar nuances of tentativeness, and understanding these can enrich expression. Using these alternatives can help make your writing more impactful, as well as prevent you from using it improperly. The insights provided here cover grammatical correctness, alternative phrases, and common errors for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a preliminary finding

Similar, but emphasizes the 'discovery' aspect of the conclusion.

an initial assessment

Focuses on the evaluation aspect, suggesting a first-pass analysis.

a provisional determination

Emphasizes the temporary nature of the finding, subject to change.

a tentative inference

Indicates a more cautious and provisional judgment than the original phrase.

a working hypothesis

Highlights the exploratory nature of the conclusion, often used in scientific contexts.

a first approximation

Suggests a simplified or rough estimate as a starting point.

a speculative judgment

Indicates a conclusion based on incomplete evidence or conjecture.

a projected outcome

Focuses on forecasting or predicting a result based on current data.

a rough estimation

Emphasizes the imprecision and inexactness of the conclusion.

a basic assumption

Highlights the foundational belief upon which further analysis is built.

FAQs

How do you use "a preliminary conclusion" in a sentence?

You can use "a preliminary conclusion" to introduce an initial finding that needs further verification. For example: "After analyzing the data, we reached "a preliminary conclusion" that more research is needed."

What is another way to say "a preliminary conclusion"?

Alternatives to "a preliminary conclusion" include "a tentative inference", "an initial assessment", or "a preliminary finding".

What does "a preliminary conclusion" mean?

"A preliminary conclusion" refers to an initial judgment or determination made provisionally, subject to further investigation, evidence, or analysis before a final decision is reached.

Is it appropriate to act on "a preliminary conclusion"?

Acting solely on "a preliminary conclusion" can be risky. It's generally advisable to wait for more definitive evidence or confirmation unless the situation requires immediate action, in which case, acknowledge the uncertainty and potential for change.