a prototype of an idea

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a prototype of an idea" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing an initial model or example that represents a concept or thought. Example: "The artist created a prototype of an idea for her new sculpture, which she later refined into the final piece."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Mincome was a prototype of an idea that came to the fore in the sixties, and that is now popular again among economists and policy folks: a basic income guarantee.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Steve Keen, an Australian economist, has long argued that macro needs to incorporate these ideas, and has developed a prototype of a computer program, called "Minsky," that can be used to model economies as monetary systems.

The Economist

I had the opportunity to try a prototype of the idea about a year ago and I can say it works really well.

TechCrunch

"I created a prototype of this idea I had – which I still want to produce – of salt and pepper shakers," she says.

TechCrunch

They created a prototype of their idea, a game called Craftworld, a physics-based, 2D side-scrolling game, with a place holder character called Mr. Yellowhead.

Wikipedia

"About four years ago we launched Ghost on Kickstarter as a tiny little prototype of an idea to create the web's next great open source blogging platform," said O'Nolan.

TechCrunch

They can post a video of a heart-felt pitch and demonstrate a prototype of their ideas on sites such as Indiegogo, Kickstarter and Plum Alley.

Huffington Post

A lot of them only have a prototype or an idea some times.

Huffington Post

They fashioned a prototype of Mrs. Zegarra's idea out of clear polyvinyl.

The New York Times

As the title of his treatise Fundamentals of the Linguistic Prototype (Grundzüge des allgemeinen Sprachtypus) suggests, the term stands for the idea of a prototype of language, similar in concept to Goethe's idea of a protoplant (Urpflanze) which was not to be confused with a real plant but instead embodied the essential features found in all existing plants.

SEP

It allows the interested reader to quickly extract the key ideas and build a prototype of the method.

Journal of Theoretical and Applied Physics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the development process, use "a prototype of an idea" to emphasize the initial, experimental nature of the concept being tested.

Common error

Avoid using "a prototype of an idea" when referring to fully developed concepts. Ensure that the idea is genuinely in its early stages of testing and refinement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a prototype of an idea" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It identifies or describes something as being in the initial, experimental stage of development, representing a preliminary version of a concept.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a prototype of an idea" is a noun phrase used to describe an initial or experimental model of a concept. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and frequently appears in diverse contexts such as news, media, science, and wiki articles. It serves to highlight the preliminary stage of an idea's development, often implying that further testing and refinement are expected. While other similar phrases exist, "a prototype of an idea" effectively conveys the notion of an early-stage concept undergoing initial testing and development.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an initial concept model

Replaces 'prototype' with 'initial concept model', emphasizing the early stage and conceptual nature.

a preliminary design for a concept

Focuses on the design aspect and the concept it represents, using 'preliminary' to indicate an early stage.

an early version of a thought

Replaces 'prototype' with 'early version' and 'idea' with 'thought', simplifying the language.

a first draft of a notion

Uses 'first draft' to convey the initial stage and 'notion' as a synonym for 'idea'.

a basic representation of a concept

Highlights the representational aspect and uses 'basic' to indicate simplicity and early development.

a test model of a theory

Substitutes "prototype" with "test model" and "idea" with "theory", suggesting a more scientific or experimental approach.

a mock-up of a plan

Uses "mock-up" to suggest a visual or tangible representation and "plan" as a synonym for idea.

a sketch of a concept

Focuses on the initial, often hand-drawn, nature of the representation.

a blueprint for a concept

Implies a more detailed and structured early plan, suitable for technical contexts.

an experimental model of a concept

Highlights the experimental and exploratory nature of the prototype.

FAQs

How can I use "a prototype of an idea" in a sentence?

You can use "a prototype of an idea" to describe an early version or model of a concept that is being tested or developed. For example, "The initial design was "a prototype of an idea" that eventually became a successful product".

What's a good substitute for "a prototype of an idea"?

Alternatives include "an initial concept model", "a preliminary design for a concept", or "an early version of a thought", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "a prototype of an idea", or should it be "prototype for an idea"?

"A prototype of an idea" is grammatically correct and commonly used. While "prototype for an idea" might be understood, "a prototype of an idea" is the more standard phrasing.

What is the difference between "a prototype of an idea" and "a concept"?

"A concept" is a general notion or thought. "A prototype of an idea" refers to a tangible or testable representation of that concept, implying a more developed and concrete form.