a quick indication

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a quick indication" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to provide a brief or concise signal or sign of something, often in a context where more detailed information may follow. Example: "Can you give me a quick indication of your availability for the meeting next week?"

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

With the graphs described a designer can obtain a quick indication of whether such effects are important.

Building and Environment

Non-lenders, like a future landlord or cell-phone service provider, may also look at your credit score to get a quick indication of your financial health.

HuffPost

Comparison of rates gives a quick indication of the validity of the GPRD without the effort of individual case review.

British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

Many studies also suggest the use of the assay for quantitative monitoring as a quick indication in the presence or absence of a particular substrate and its estimated concentration.

BioMed Research International

Searching the available microarray expression data for over-expression of the studied mouse gene in human cancer may already provide a quick indication of the relevance of this gene for human cancer.

Breast Cancer Research

The case studies described here, as well as other examples summarized in Table 1, demonstrate that the NMR screen provides a quick indication of whether the putative function assignment is likely to be correct.

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

They are economical and can provide a relatively quick indication of possible functional efficacy.

Duke University

For large data sets similarity searches still provide a reasonable and quick indication of LGT events.

Plosone

This colour change on the transformants served as a quick visual indication that mCherry was displayed on the yeast cell surface.

AMB Express

Hence, these findings suggest that this novel genetic sensor provides an efficient method of screening new drugs and a quick clear indication of the therapeutic potency of vitamin D3 analogues at the cellular level.

BMC Biotechnology

There was no quick indication of the nature of the victims' grievances, but Chinese authorities have been on heightened alert this week because of two events that could draw protesters to the capital.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a quick indication" when you want to provide an initial assessment or signal without going into extensive detail. For instance, in project management, it can signal the early stages of risk assessment.

Common error

Avoid using "a quick indication" excessively in formal or academic reports where detailed evidence and analysis are expected. Opt for more specific and data-driven descriptions instead to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a quick indication" functions as a noun phrase that often serves as a subject or object in a sentence. It identifies something that provides an early or immediate signal about a situation or trend. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Academia

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a quick indication" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that serves to provide an initial, brief assessment or signal about something. According to Ludwig, it is acceptable and can be used in various contexts, including science, news, and academia. While the phrase is generally acceptable, it's important to consider the context and choose more formal alternatives in highly formal settings. Its communicative purpose is to offer a preliminary understanding without delving into extensive details, and it's important not to overuse it in contexts requiring thorough analysis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a fast signal

Replaces "indication" with "signal" and "quick" with "fast", focusing on speed.

a brief sign

Substitutes "indication" with "sign" and "quick" with "brief", emphasizing brevity.

a rapid clue

Replaces "indication" with "clue" and "quick" with "rapid", suggesting a hint or suggestion.

a speedy notification

Substitutes "indication" with "notification" and "quick" with "speedy", focusing on an immediate notice.

a prompt alert

Replaces "indication" with "alert" and "quick" with "prompt", focusing on immediacy and warning.

an immediate hint

Replaces "quick indication" with "immediate hint", highlighting a subtle suggestion.

a fast glimpse

Replaces "indication" with "glimpse" and "quick" with "fast", suggesting a brief look.

a short heads-up

Substitutes the entire phrase with a more informal expression.

an early sign

Replaces "quick" with "early", focusing on precedence rather than speed.

a preliminary notion

Replaces the phrase with a more formal and tentative expression.

FAQs

How can I use "a quick indication" in a sentence?

You can use "a quick indication" to suggest a fast assessment or signal. For example, "The initial survey gave "a quick indication" of customer satisfaction levels".

What can I say instead of "a quick indication"?

You can use alternatives like "a brief sign", "a fast signal", or "an immediate hint" depending on the context.

Is "a quick indication" appropriate for formal writing?

While "a quick indication" is generally acceptable, consider using more formal alternatives like "a preliminary assessment" or "an initial report" in highly formal contexts.

What's the difference between "a quick indication" and "a detailed analysis"?

"A quick indication" suggests a brief, initial assessment, while "a detailed analysis" implies a thorough and comprehensive examination of a subject. The former is preliminary, the latter is exhaustive.