a preliminary effort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a preliminary effort" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an initial attempt or action taken before a more comprehensive or final effort is made. Example: "The team conducted a preliminary effort to gather data before launching the full-scale research project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Rival Afghan opposition groups meet this morning in Germany in a preliminary effort to fashion a unified government.

The New York Times

We seem to gloss over the fact that these players voted to re-open a collectively bargained agreement in a preliminary effort to address the drug problem.

The New York Times

The team that generated the forecast, whose members come from two German ocean and climate research centers, acknowledged that it was a preliminary effort.

The New York Times - Science

"This was a preliminary effort at the request of the union to understand the facts," said Ell, adding that he was acting as a lawyer for the union.

The New York Times - Sports

The work described in this study is a preliminary effort to identify the most cost effective pipe material for application in sewage collection networks.

Materials & Design

The program began in all 60 in December, but as of last week, no one could say how many bodegas still sold the snacks, and a department spokeswoman called it a preliminary effort that bogged down by distribution problems.

The New York Times - Food

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

This work is a raw and preliminary effort, but a welcome starting gun for genomics and conservation communities to rapidly supply the finer genome feature details.

GigaScience

Yet, despite their pioneering effort and the fact that the industry has been consulted in the process, some bankers are already criticizing CFPB's preliminary effort to make a bad system better.

Huffington Post

A preliminary finishing effort closed approximate 10% of the remaining genome gaps, some of which contained important regions, such as ITS and complete mitochondrial DNA.

BMC Genomics

The genome of Marssonina brunnea, a woody plant pathogenic fungus that causes foliar disease in poplar, was sequenced and assembled with next-generation sequencing techniques, followed by a preliminary finishing effort that closed approximately 10% of the remaining gaps.

BMC Genomics

This paper presents our preliminary effort in predicting particle size distributions in particulate processes in turbulent flow systems.

Chemical Engineering Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a preliminary effort" to clearly indicate that the action being described is an initial step and may not be fully comprehensive or conclusive.

Common error

Avoid presenting the results of "a preliminary effort" as definitive findings. Clearly communicate that further investigation or action is required.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a preliminary effort" functions as a noun phrase, where "preliminary" modifies the noun "effort". It describes an action or attempt that is initial or preparatory in nature, as Ludwig AI confirms.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a preliminary effort" is a phrase used to describe an initial attempt or action, often in a formal or academic context. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is correct and usable in written English. While not exceedingly common, it serves to communicate that the action is a first step and may require further development or investigation. Ludwig’s examples suggest its frequent presence in the fields of science and news. When using this phrase, ensure that you clearly indicate the tentative nature of the effort and avoid presenting it as a definitive outcome.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a first attempt

Directly states that it is the first try at something.

an initial undertaking

Replaces "effort" with a more formal synonym, "undertaking", suggesting a task or project.

a preparatory measure

Focuses on the action taken to prepare for something, highlighting the preparatory aspect.

a starting point

Emphasizes the beginning stage of a process or project.

a trial run

Implies a test or practice before a final implementation, emphasizing the experimental nature.

a pilot study

Specifically refers to a small-scale study conducted before a larger one, common in research contexts.

an early initiative

Highlights the proactive and initiating aspect of the effort.

an exploratory endeavor

Highlights the investigative and discovery-oriented nature of the effort.

a test phase

Focuses on testing and evaluation as an initial stage.

a groundwork laid

Suggests preparing a base or foundation for future work.

FAQs

How to use "a preliminary effort" in a sentence?

"A preliminary effort" typically describes an initial attempt or action taken before a more comprehensive undertaking. For example, "This study represents "a preliminary effort" to understand the impact of the new policy."

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

You can use alternatives like "an initial attempt", "a first step", or "a pilot study depending on the context.

Is "a preliminary effort" formal or informal?

"A preliminary effort" is generally considered formal and suitable for academic, scientific, or professional writing. In more informal contexts, you might opt for "a first try" or "an initial go".

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

"A preliminary effort" suggests an initial, often smaller-scale attempt, while "a comprehensive study" implies a thorough and complete investigation. The former is an early stage, the latter is a more exhaustive analysis.