a preliminary judgment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a preliminary judgment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to an initial assessment or decision made before a final conclusion is reached. Example: "The court issued a preliminary judgment, allowing the case to proceed to trial."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

In a preliminary judgment this month, the European court's advocate general found against the carriers.

The New York Times

Uefa says the European Union's court of justice ruled a Belgian court's request for a preliminary judgment was "manifestly inadmissible".

The Guardian - Sport

Next week he will have been in office for exactly a year, time enough for a preliminary judgment.

The Economist

They could have tried to get a preliminary judgment from the F.C.C., but Mr. Collins said that the commission doesn't respond to such requests.

The New York Times - Books

"It is unacceptable that prior to the adoption of the amendment the Council of Europe should announce a preliminary judgment which is clearly based on misunderstandings.

The Guardian

But, in a preliminary judgment, Master of the Rolls Lord Neuberger said three appeal court judges had ruled unanimously in favour of Nama, overturning the initial decision.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Joe Fiorante QC, lead counsel for the plaintiffs at CFM Lawyers, said of the preliminary judgment last week: "It's a huge step forward to hold Nevsun accountable to what our clients allege are very serious breaches of basic human rights.

The Guardian

But the passage of years and the preliminary judgment of history show a straight line from the Tree Man to "Brownie" to Dick Cheney.

Huffington Post

Dr. J.G. de Casparis, a scholar of ancient Indonesian writing, gave the preliminary judgment that the style of the script might date from an earlier period such as the 10th or 11th century.

Wikipedia

Based on the preliminary judgment of the first index, another two evaluation indexes are proposed based on the cooling ability and dehumidification of an airflow volume of 1000 m3/min at point C to evaluate the investment and operation cost of mine cooling system.

International Journal of Mining Science and Technology

But even this preliminary judgment raises two important issues.

Genome Medicine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a preliminary judgment", ensure the context clearly indicates that the decision is subject to change or further review. Add clarifying information about the expected subsequent steps.

Common error

Avoid presenting "a preliminary judgment" as a definitive conclusion. This can mislead your audience and undermine the credibility of your analysis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a preliminary judgment" functions as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object within a sentence. It indicates an initial, non-final decision or assessment, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a preliminary judgment" is a noun phrase denoting an initial, non-final decision or assessment. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use in various contexts, particularly news, science, and encyclopedic content. It is important to remember, as the examples indicate, that a preliminary judgment is subject to change and should not be presented as a conclusive statement. Alternatives such as "an initial assessment" or "a provisional determination" can be used to convey similar meanings depending on the specific nuance desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an initial assessment

Replaces "judgment" with "assessment", focusing on the evaluation aspect rather than the decision itself.

a tentative ruling

Substitutes "preliminary" with "tentative", highlighting the provisional nature of the ruling.

a provisional determination

Emphasizes the temporary nature of the decision, using "provisional" instead of "preliminary".

an early evaluation

Replaces "judgment" with "evaluation" and "preliminary" with "early", suggesting a focus on the evaluative process.

a prior assessment

Replaces "judgment" with "assessment" and "preliminary" with "prior", highlighting the fact that the assessment occurs before something else.

a first impression

Focuses on the initial assessment aspect, simplifying the phrase to its most basic meaning.

a speculative conclusion

Emphasizes the uncertain nature of the judgment, implying that it is based on incomplete information.

a surface analysis

Highlights the superficial level of the analysis, suggesting a quick and not very detailed assessment.

a cursory review

Focuses on the brevity and lack of depth in the review process.

a rough estimate

Shifts the context to a numerical evaluation, emphasizing the approximation involved.

FAQs

What does "a preliminary judgment" mean?

A "preliminary judgment" refers to an initial decision or assessment that is subject to change or further review. It's not the final verdict, but rather an early determination based on the available information.

How is "a preliminary judgment" used in legal contexts?

In law, "a preliminary judgment" often precedes a full trial or hearing. It can set the stage for further proceedings or establish certain parameters for the case. Consider also "a tentative ruling".

What are some alternatives to "a preliminary judgment"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "an initial assessment", "a provisional determination", or "an early evaluation".

How does "a preliminary judgment" differ from a final judgment?

While "a preliminary judgment" is subject to revision, a final judgment is a conclusive decision that resolves the matter at hand. The former is temporary, while the latter is definitive.