a preliminary warning

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a preliminary warning" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when giving an initial alert or notice about a potential issue or situation that may require attention. Example: "Before we proceed with the project, I want to give you a preliminary warning about the possible delays due to supply chain issues."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Slightly less than one minute before the crash, the systems aboard both planes barked out a preliminary warning of "traffic, traffic".

The New York Times

At 5 20 p.m., one of the outriders gave him a preliminary warning, and he feigned nervousness, saying, "I can't get myself to go out".

The New York Times - Sports

A preliminary warning of the debacle should have been apparent as early as 1932 in a Silly Symphony called "Flowers and Trees" (historically important as the first animated cartoon in color), which forecast some of the offenses later amplified in "Fantasia" (all except the Mickey Mouse sequence) and "Bambi". But I thought at the time that Walt had to be kidding.

The New York Times

After seeing them, we think you'll agree with our conclusion that it's not too early to issue a preliminary warning.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Genuine, deep, long-term study of the Holocaust has the power to sensitize people, raise awareness of the other, help identify the preliminary warning signs of genocide, and put the brakes in place.

The New York Times

The UN Environment Programme's (UNEP) final report on the environmental impact of DU after the Kosovo conflict in 1999 recommended a clean-up of the 112 exposed sites there, which still appears not to have been carried out despite preliminary warnings issued two months ago.

The Guardian

The lawyer explains that Axel Springer's Die Welt tried to obtain a preliminary injuction without warning in the at the district court of Stuttgart (Landgericht Stuttgart) through the law firm Lubberger Lehment.

TechCrunch

Next, St . Judereturned the donations, and Mr. Ridley received a letter from a law firm retained by the hospital, warning that a preliminary injunction would soon be filed against his company, Vidbidness.

The New York Times

It shows how early warnings relate to project problems and their causes, and develops a preliminary model for the utilisation of early warnings.

International Journal of Project Management

It should be noted that this is a preliminary investigation on threshold value determination for system transient instability early warning.

Protection and Control of Modern Power Systems

GENEVA, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Big powers resumed talks on Wednesday on a preliminary agreement to curb Iran's nuclear programme with the United States warning it would be "very hard" to clinch a breakthrough deal this week and Tehran citing "red lines".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a preliminary warning", ensure the context clearly indicates that further investigation or action may be required. Avoid overstating the certainty of the potential issue.

Common error

Avoid presenting "a preliminary warning" as a definitive statement of fact. It should be conveyed as a possibility that warrants further attention, not as an absolute certainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a preliminary warning" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies an initial alert or notification regarding a potential issue or problem. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a preliminary warning" is a noun phrase used to describe an initial alert or notification regarding a potential issue. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. The phrase is commonly found in news, scientific and wiki contexts, indicating its versatility across different communication styles. While grammatically sound, it's essential to avoid overstating the certainty of the issue when delivering the warning. Related phrases include "an initial warning" and "an early warning", offering similar but subtly different nuances. The expert rating reflects its correctness, source authority, and consistent usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an initial warning

Replaces "preliminary" with "initial", emphasizing the warning is the first one given.

an advance warning

Substitutes "preliminary" with "advance", suggesting the warning is provided ahead of time.

an early warning

Replaces "preliminary" with "early", highlighting the timing of the warning.

a tentative warning

Substitutes "preliminary" with "tentative", indicating the warning might be subject to change.

a heads-up

Offers a more informal synonym for "a preliminary warning".

an alert

Provides a briefer and more direct substitute, focusing on the warning aspect.

a cautionary notice

Replaces "warning" with "notice" and adds "cautionary" to highlight its purpose.

a prior notification

Emphasizes the act of notifying in advance, rather than the warning itself.

an initial heads-up

Combines "initial" with "heads-up" for an informal yet explicit early warning.

a first alert

Emphasizes that the alert is the first one, with a stronger focus on immediacy.

FAQs

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

You can use "a preliminary warning" to introduce a potential issue that requires further attention. For example, "The data suggests "a preliminary warning" about possible budget overruns."

What are some alternatives to "a preliminary warning"?

Some alternatives include "an initial warning", "an early warning", or "an advance warning", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always necessary to provide "a preliminary warning"?

No, it's not always necessary. "A preliminary warning" is most appropriate when there's an indication of a potential problem, but further investigation is needed to confirm its validity. If the issue is already confirmed, a more direct warning might be more suitable.

What's the difference between "a preliminary warning" and "a final warning"?

"A preliminary warning" indicates an initial alert about a potential issue, while "a final warning" signifies that all prior warnings have been ignored and further action will be taken if the issue persists.