a preliminary draft of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a preliminary draft of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to an initial version of a document or piece of work that is subject to further revision or editing. Example: "I have completed a preliminary draft of the report, and I would appreciate your feedback before finalizing it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

I sent a preliminary draft of this order to the secretary of defense on May 9.

The New York Times

Before downgrading U.S. debt, S.& P. sent a preliminary draft of its press release to the U.S. Treasury.

The New York Times

Last week, the Senate finance committee issued a preliminary draft of legislation that would exclude black liquor from the alternative fuels credit.

The New York Times

Administration officials said Mr. Bloomberg's remarks about the pay increases -- his first that provided specific figures -- were based on a preliminary draft of a ruling by a state arbitration panel.

The New York Times

It and a "preliminary draft" of the book, dated Feb. 21, 1997, and adding Dr. Schatzberg's name were released Monday by the Project on Government Oversight, a Washington advocacy group.

The New York Times

Ms. Kuan said she would assess the "taste and comfort level" of the Hartford audience before programming too much new music, and a preliminary draft of the 2011-12 schedule features much standard repertory.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

We received valuable feedback when presenting a preliminary draft to the research groups of Georgy Koentges and Keith Vance.

BMC Genomics

I trust the authors that their implementation of this approach is technically sound, but, unfortunately, this is hard to ascertain from the submitted version of the manuscript, which reads as a preliminary draft devoid of the quantitative details.

Biology Direct

Eleven were composed of 2 assembled sequences that are likely allelic variants of the same genes, based on their matches to a single location in a preliminary draft assembly of the Daphnia genome sequence at the mid-point of the genome sequencing project (4 × coverage; deposited at wFleaBase).

BMC Genomics

Parallel to the sequencing initiative in red raspberry, a preliminary draft genome of the black raspberry has been produced from the sequencing and assembly of data generated from clone 'ORUS 4115-3'ORUS

Horticulture Research

Dr. McCaskill says it was because the adviser mistakenly sent a "preliminary" draft full of grammatical errors to the printer.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a preliminary draft of", ensure that you indicate who the draft is intended for or what purpose it serves to give context to the reader. For example, "a preliminary draft of the proposal for the board" is more informative than just "a preliminary draft of the proposal".

Common error

Avoid omitting the article "a" before "preliminary draft". Saying just "preliminary draft of" sounds incomplete and unidiomatic. Always include the article for clarity and grammatical correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a preliminary draft of" functions as a noun phrase acting as an adjective modifying a noun. It specifies the state of the noun, indicating that it is an early, unrefined version. As Ludwig confirms, it’s grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

52%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

8%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a preliminary draft of" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that indicates an early, unpolished version of a document. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is most frequently found in news and media, and scientific contexts. When writing, remember to include the article "a" and provide context about the draft's purpose or intended audience. Consider using alternative phrases like "an initial version of" or "a rough draft of" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an initial version of

Focuses on the version being the first one.

a first version of

Emphasizes the sequence of the version, being the first.

a rough draft of

Highlights the unpolished and initial state.

a working draft of

Implies a version that is still under development.

a trial version of

Indicates a version used for testing.

a pre-release version of

Highlights the version not yet released to the public.

an early form of

Emphasizes it's in the early stages.

a sketch of

Conveys a less detailed, more basic version.

a mockup of

Highlights a prototype or model.

a blueprint for

Implies a foundational plan or design.

FAQs

How can I use "a preliminary draft of" in a sentence?

You can use "a preliminary draft of" to describe an early version of a document. For example, "The committee reviewed "a preliminary draft of" the new regulations."

What is the difference between "a preliminary draft of" and "a final version of"?

"A preliminary draft of" refers to an early version that is likely to be revised, while "a final version of" is the completed, approved document.

What can I say instead of "a preliminary draft of"?

You can use alternatives like "an initial version of", "a rough draft of", or "a working draft of" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to share "a preliminary draft of" a document with clients?

Sharing "a preliminary draft of" a document with clients can be useful to gather early feedback, but ensure you clearly label it as such to avoid confusion and manage expectations. It should not be presented as "a final version".