a preliminary offer

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a preliminary offer" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to an initial proposal or bid that is subject to further negotiation or confirmation. Example: "We are pleased to present a preliminary offer for the project, which we can discuss in more detail during our meeting next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

"I think it might be just a preliminary offer," he said.

The New York Times

That backs up a preliminary offer that KSL, a private equity firm, made last week.

The New York Times

The agreement comes after a preliminary offer from Coca-Cola was rescinded and maneuvers by Danone of France were abandoned.

The New York Times

Royalty Pharma said it first contacted the chairman of Elan on Feb. 18, making a preliminary offer two days later.

The New York Times

Under a preliminary offer, RP Management, or Royalty Pharma, disclosed an $11-a-share 11-a-share 11-a-share

The New York Times

First Data, which is based in Greenwood Village, Colo., made a preliminary offer of 2.80 euros a share and is in advanced talks with the company, Alphyra said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

ImClone Systems on Wednesday threw a wrench into a $4.5 billion takeover effort by Bristol-Myers saying by sayitg it was entertaining a higher preliminary offer from a new unnamed suitor.

The New York Times

But National Express said it had received a "highly preliminary" offer from Stagecoach for an all-share deal and that it was still pursuing plans for a share sale.

Forbes

Despite Senator Mitch McConnell's preliminary offer of an olive branch to President Barack Obama, if the honeymoon is not over yet, it soon will be.

Huffington Post

Ms. Iakovides managed to get a preliminary $39,000 offer accepted by the bank on the home in early August 2009, and she began trying to set a closing date.

The New York Times

The price represents an increase of less than 1percentt from Imperial's closing price on Monday, but a 62percentt premium to the price on July 11, the day before Imperial announced it had received a preliminary takeover offer.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a preliminary offer", clearly state any conditions or contingencies attached to the offer to avoid misunderstandings.

Common error

Avoid presenting "a preliminary offer" as a finalized agreement. Always clarify that it is subject to further negotiation and approval.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a preliminary offer" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object in a sentence. It introduces an initial proposal that is subject to further discussion and potential changes. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

17%

Science

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a preliminary offer" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to denote an initial, non-binding proposal or bid. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and its frequent appearance in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. When using this phrase, clarity about its non-final nature is crucial to avoid misunderstandings. Alternatives such as "an initial bid" or "a tentative proposal" can provide nuanced shades of meaning, while maintaining similar semantic content. To reiterate, the purpose of "a preliminary offer" is to open discussions, while being a starting point for further negotiation. Always remember it's not a commitment, but rather a starting point.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an initial bid

Replaces 'offer' with 'bid', implying a competitive context.

a tentative proposal

Substitutes 'preliminary' with 'tentative', emphasizing the conditional nature of the offer.

a first-round offer

Highlights the offer's position as the initial one in a series.

an early expression of interest

Shifts focus from the concrete offer to the underlying interest.

a non-binding offer

Explicitly states the offer's lack of legal obligation at this stage.

a ballpark figure

Replaces the formal "offer" with a more general approximation of value.

a speculative tender

Implies the offer is made without complete information.

an exploratory proposition

Emphasizes the investigative nature of the offer.

a starting offer

Highlights the offer as the basis for future negotiation.

a conditional bid

Indicates the offer is subject to certain conditions being met.

FAQs

What does "a preliminary offer" mean?

A "preliminary offer" is an initial proposal or bid that is subject to further negotiation and isn't legally binding until finalized. It's often used as a starting point in business or transactional discussions.

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

You can use alternatives like "an initial bid", "a tentative proposal", or "a first-round offer" depending on the context.

How is "a preliminary offer" different from a final offer?

A "preliminary offer" is non-binding and subject to change, whereas a final offer represents the definitive terms and is intended to be accepted as is. There may be a possibility of negotiating "a tentative proposal".

Is "a preliminary offer" legally binding?

No, "a preliminary offer" is generally not legally binding. It serves as an initial expression of interest and is typically followed by more detailed negotiations and a formal contract if the parties agree.