a preliminary survey

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a preliminary survey" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to an initial assessment or investigation conducted to gather information before a more detailed study or analysis. Example: "Before launching the project, we conducted a preliminary survey to understand the needs of our target audience."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

A preliminary survey of investor attitudes for July had its sharpest drop since September.

The New York Times

Consumer confidence fell sharply this month, according to a preliminary survey released on Friday by the University of Michigan.

The New York Times

The department does not yet know how many students took the test last month, but a preliminary survey suggests that only 37percentt of the students passed.

The New York Times

Growth in the first quarter of 2001, now ending, probably slowed to a 0.7percentt rate, according to a preliminary survey of economists.

The New York Times

He visited Connecticut this month to do a preliminary survey, in the hopes that some museum volunteers might be able to move it to keep the cost down.

The New York Times

A preliminary survey of 195 buildings in the area by engineers hired by the city reached the same conclusion last week.

The New York Times

He said a preliminary survey indicated that more than 11,000 Iraqis died here, but it will take some time before any estimate can be confirmed.

The New York Times

Further evidence of a global slowdown in PC sales came today in a preliminary survey released by Dataquest, the market research firm.

The New York Times

Bob Terrell, Fort Worth's city manager, said a preliminary survey by his staff had found 52 commercial structures damaged and 8 buildings destroyed.

The New York Times

A preliminary survey by the county showed 114 structures had been lost in the fire, said Dwight D'Evelyn, a spokesman for the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office.

The New York Times

The state says the permit was conditioned on the developer's agreeing to respect the site's archaeological significance, which was established in a preliminary survey in the 1980s.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting the findings of "a preliminary survey", clearly state the limitations of the data and emphasize that the results are not conclusive but rather indicative.

Common error

Avoid presenting the results of "a preliminary survey" as definitive conclusions. Instead, frame them as initial observations that require further investigation through more rigorous research methods.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a preliminary survey" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes an initial investigative activity. As Ludwig AI confirms, its use is grammatically sound. Examples include "A preliminary survey of investor attitudes..." and "A preliminary survey was conducted to..."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a preliminary survey" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe an initial investigation. According to Ludwig AI, it serves to set the context for early-stage findings. Its frequency is notably high in scientific and news media contexts. When using the phrase, remember to highlight the limitations of the data collected and to avoid presenting findings as definitive conclusions. Alternatives include "an initial assessment" and "a pilot study". Overall it's an effective way to show a quick-look over a subject and is especially effective at providing data and insights before a larger project begins.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an initial assessment

Emphasizes the beginning stage of evaluation, similar to a preliminary survey.

a pilot study

Suggests a small-scale study conducted before a larger one, akin to a preliminary survey.

a feasibility study

Focuses on determining the practicality and potential success of a project, like a preliminary survey assesses viability.

an exploratory study

Highlights the investigative nature of the survey, aimed at discovering initial information.

a scoping review

Implies a broad overview to identify the scope of available research, analogous to a preliminary survey.

a precursory investigation

Underscores the introductory nature of the investigation.

an advance poll

Similar to a survey, but more specific to gathering opinions or predicting outcomes.

a quick poll

A survey characterized by the speed of its implementation.

a front-end analysis

Focuses on analyzing project requirements and user needs, comparable to the information-gathering stage of a preliminary survey.

a trial run

Suggests a test phase to identify potential issues, like a preliminary survey identifies initial findings.

FAQs

How can I use "a preliminary survey" in a sentence?

You might say, "The team conducted "a preliminary survey" to assess customer interest before launching the new product line".

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

"A preliminary survey" is an initial investigation to gather basic information, while "a comprehensive study" involves a more in-depth analysis and a wider range of data.

What are some alternatives to using the phrase "a preliminary survey"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "an initial assessment", "a pilot study", or "an exploratory study" instead of ""a preliminary survey"".

When is it appropriate to conduct "a preliminary survey"?

It is appropriate to conduct ""a preliminary survey"" when you need to gather initial data or insights before committing to a larger, more resource-intensive project or study.