a provisional deadline

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a provisional deadline" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a temporary or tentative deadline that may change or be adjusted later. Example: "We have set a provisional deadline for the project completion, but it may be extended if necessary."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Mr. Clinton, who leaves office in less than a month, set a provisional deadline of Wednesday for the replies from the Israeli prime minister, Ehud Barak, and the Palestinian leader, Yasir Arafat.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The provisional deadline agreed with the army expired on 15 December, but Becali's terms do not involve buying back what he claims he already owns.

The Guardian - Sport

If you're a local startup with an iPad app idea, you're advised to "complete the appropriate sections of a NFM Economic Award application and attach as detailed a provisional budget as possible" (here) – and remember, the deadline is Feb 24th.

TechCrunch

Garrett O'Connor, a labor organizer in Brooklyn, said he was only able to cast a provisional ballot on Tuesday despite changing his party registration before the deadline.

The Guardian

Appiah now has a provisional squad of 25 players and must drop two for Wednesday's deadline for naming final squads for the Nations Cup.

BBC

They set themselves a deadline of two weeks to summon more than 350 delegates to a provisional national assembly meeting in the Iraqi capital, still reeling from the devastation and shortages of war, to form the interim government of postwar Iraq.

The New York Times

Switlick ultimately decided to vote for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton with a provisional ballot; he's hoping to get an ID to make his ballot count before the Friday afternoon deadline.

Huffington Post

Hit a provisional.

The New York Times - Sports

She clocked a provisional 2 32.04.

The New York Times - Sports

But that's a provisional decision.

The New Yorker

A provisional Irish government was proclaimed.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a provisional deadline" when you want to communicate that a deadline is subject to change based on evolving circumstances or new information. It's useful in project management or negotiations where flexibility is required.

Common error

Avoid treating "a provisional deadline" as a final or unchangeable commitment. Always reiterate the possibility of adjustments to prevent misunderstandings and manage expectations effectively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a provisional deadline" functions as a noun phrase, where "provisional" modifies the noun "deadline". It indicates a timeframe that is not yet fixed and is subject to change. This is supported by Ludwig AI, which confirms the grammatical correctness of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

32%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a provisional deadline" is a useful phrase for communicating a timeframe that is subject to change. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, and it is commonly found in news, media, and scientific contexts. While the phrase is understood across various domains, it is important to manage expectations and avoid treating it as a fixed commitment. Alternatives like "a tentative deadline" or "a preliminary deadline" can be used depending on the desired nuance. Remember, the key is to convey flexibility and adaptability while maintaining clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a tentative deadline

Replaces "provisional" with "tentative", emphasizing the uncertain nature of the deadline.

a preliminary deadline

Uses "preliminary" instead of "provisional", highlighting that it's an initial timeframe subject to change.

a temporary deadline

Highlights the short-term or non-permanent nature of the deadline.

a working deadline

Suggests the deadline is currently in use but not yet finalized.

an interim deadline

Suggests the deadline is a placeholder until a more definitive one is established.

an initial deadline

Focuses on the fact that it is the first deadline set, with possible later modifications.

a projected deadline

Implies the deadline is an estimated timeframe.

an estimated deadline

Similar to "projected", but puts more emphasis on the fact that it's a guess or approximation.

a planned deadline

Indicates that the deadline is part of an organized schedule, but could still be adjusted.

a subject-to-change deadline

Emphasizes the mutability of the deadline.

FAQs

How do you use "a provisional deadline" in a sentence?

"A provisional deadline" is used to indicate a timeframe that is subject to change. For example, "We have set "a provisional deadline" for the end of the month, but that may be extended depending on client feedback."

What can I say instead of "a provisional deadline"?

Alternatives include "a tentative deadline", "a preliminary deadline", or "a working deadline". The best choice depends on the context and the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "a provisional deadline" the same as "a final deadline"?

No, "a provisional deadline" indicates a deadline that is subject to change, while a final deadline is a fixed and unchangeable date.

When is it appropriate to use "a provisional deadline"?

Use "a provisional deadline" when the project or task has uncertainties that may impact the schedule. This is common in situations where external factors, approvals, or dependencies could affect the completion date.