a provisional response

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a provisional response" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a temporary or preliminary answer to a question or situation that may change later. Example: "While we await further information, I am providing a provisional response to your inquiry regarding the project timeline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

On 2 February, Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, released a letter containing a provisional response to Cameron's renegotiation proposals.

The Guardian

As a response to the INVITE request, the callee answers with a provisional response (100 Trying).

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Prack is an SIP Provisional Response used as an acknowledgment.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

This extension includes three messages: a 183 (Session progress) provisional response, a PRACK and its corresponding 200 (OK) response to the PRACK.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Writing in the New Statesman, George Eaton stated that he was surprised by the moderate stance that Chomsky took in Occupy, remarking that the "self-described anarchist sounds very much like a social democrat", offering the "cautious, provisional response one might expect from a Labour shadow cabinet minister" rather than the words of a radical revolutionary.

Wikipedia

Next, the second provisional response (180 Ringing) is used so that the caller can know that the user agent contacted is running and trying to notify the callee.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

This section describes some proposals in which LP-SIP is based, namely, SIP [1], the model offer/answer [22] and the provisional response acknowledgement (PRACK) [23] method.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Therefore, patient self-reports of life benefits and improved emotional outcomes while on sapropterin should be considered objectively when these patients meet the criteria for provisional response [ 16].

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

However, no statistically significant change in PKU-QOL scores occurred within or between Responders and Non-responders from baseline to 1 month, even when controlling for later determined Definitive and Provisional response classification.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

With that in mind, here are provisional responses to three questions that a careful reader might have about my argument.

The New York Times

Tuesday's final Competition Commission ruling is a blow for Global Radio, which had offered to sell off just three radio stations in response to a provisional finding in February, which found the GMG Radio deal could lead to advertising and competition issues in a number of regions.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a provisional response", clarify the conditions or factors that could change the response in the future. This provides context and manages expectations.

Common error

Avoid presenting "a provisional response" as definitive. Always indicate that the response is subject to change based on new information or evolving circumstances to avoid misunderstandings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a provisional response" functions as a noun phrase, where "provisional" is an adjective modifying the noun "response". It indicates a temporary or preliminary answer. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a provisional response" is used to describe an answer that is temporary or preliminary. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and usable in written English, particularly when indicating that the response may be subject to change. While relatively rare, this phrase appears in varied contexts including news, science, and formal communication. When using "a provisional response", it's best practice to clarify the factors that could lead to its modification, and to avoid presenting it as a final, definitive answer. Consider alternatives such as "a tentative reply" or "a preliminary answer" depending on the specific shade of meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a tentative reply

Replaces "response" with "reply" and "provisional" with "tentative", indicating a hesistant or unconfirmed answer.

a preliminary answer

Substitutes "response" with "answer" and "provisional" with "preliminary", focusing on the initial nature of the reply.

a conditional reaction

Replaces "provisional" with "conditional", emphasizing that the response depends on certain conditions being met.

a qualified answer

Substitutes "provisional" with "qualified", suggesting that the response is limited or not absolute.

an interim solution

Shifts the focus to a solution that is temporary or meant to fill a gap until a more permanent one is found.

a working hypothesis

Focuses on a hypothesis that is accepted as a basis for further investigation, though not necessarily proven.

a short-term fix

Emphasizes the temporary nature of the response as a solution to a problem.

a rough estimate

Highlights the approximate and potentially inaccurate nature of the response.

a speculative assessment

Indicates that the response is based on conjecture or incomplete information.

a suggested approach

Presents the response as a recommendation that is open to revision.

FAQs

How can I use "a provisional response" in a sentence?

You can use "a provisional response" when you want to provide an initial or temporary answer that may be subject to change. For example, "The committee issued "a provisional response", pending further investigation."

What's the difference between "a provisional response" and "a definitive response"?

"A provisional response" indicates an answer that is subject to change, while "a definitive response" is a final and conclusive answer.

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

Alternatives to "a provisional response" include "a tentative reply", "a preliminary answer", or "a conditional reaction", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use "a provisional response"?

It's appropriate to use "a provisional response" in situations where you need to provide an answer quickly but lack complete information, such as in negotiations, project management, or initial assessments.