a tentative budget

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a tentative budget" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a budget that is not final and may be subject to change. Example: "We have prepared a tentative budget for the upcoming project, which will be finalized after further discussions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

The City Council and the mayor agreed on a tentative budget on Wednesday.

The New York Times

Several days later, he returned with two plans and a tentative budget listing everything he thought the project would require.

The New York Times

Republican Congressional leaders reached a tentative budget compromise on Tuesday that would extend several of President Bush's major tax cuts.

The New York Times

Word of a tentative budget agreement came after Democrats in the Assembly failed to override Mr. Christie's veto of an additional tax on millionaires.

The New York Times

A tentative budget for the Board of Education includes an increase of $200 million, including $50 million in city funds, for a total spending plan of $11.5 billion.

The New York Times

Mayor Koch, however, in presenting a tentative budget for next year, plans to add several thousand employees to the city budget.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

That tentative budget proposed an increase in the state sales tax from 6% to 7%, which was estimated to generate an additional $1.1 billion in revenue.

Wikipedia

Congress proved overnight that it isn't completely dysfunctional by reaching a tentative compromise budget deal with the White House to extend America's debt limit through 2017, potentially avoiding a second government shutdown in two years.

Vice

A21 NEW YORK/REGION B1-6 Tentative Budget Deal Reached in New Jersey With a shutdown of some state operations approaching, legislative leaders agreed late last night on a spending plan that, for the second year in a row, will cut some services and property tax relief for most New Jerseyans but does not raise major taxes.

The New York Times

Mayor Dinkins had presented his tentative budget for the next fiscal year, in which he announced that a prospective gap of 2 billion dollars would require him to lay off 16,000 city workers & to make deep cuts in city services especially those involving social agencies.

The New Yorker

Mayor Koch handed out copies of the city's tentative budget for the 1981 fiscal year, beginning July 1st, on Jan . 16.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When presenting "a tentative budget", clearly communicate that it is subject to change. Provide context about what factors could cause it to be revised.

Common error

Avoid making firm commitments based solely on "a tentative budget". Always confirm the final budget before allocating resources.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a tentative budget" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "tentative" modifies the noun "budget". It describes a budget that is not yet final and may be subject to changes. This is supported by Ludwig's examples, which show it in contexts of planning and negotiation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a tentative budget" refers to a financial plan that is preliminary and subject to change. Ludwig's analysis indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and primarily used in news and media contexts. While not exceedingly common, it effectively conveys the provisional nature of a budget under discussion or development. As Ludwig AI points out, it's important to avoid treating such budgets as final until formally approved. Alternative phrases, such as "a preliminary budget" or "a proposed budget", offer similar nuances for conveying non-finalized financial planning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a preliminary budget

Emphasizes the budget is in an early stage of development and subject to changes.

a draft budget

Focuses on the budget being a work in progress, still under review and modification.

a provisional budget

Highlights the conditional and temporary nature of the budget, pending final approval.

an estimated budget

Stresses that the budget is based on estimations and forecasts, which may not be exact.

a projected budget

Suggests the budget is based on future projections and expectations.

a proposed budget

Indicates the budget is being put forward for consideration and approval.

an initial budget

Implies this is the first version of the budget, with more refined versions to follow.

a trial budget

Suggests that the budget is being tested to see if it is viable.

a speculative budget

Highlights the uncertainty and risk associated with the budget's assumptions.

a rough budget

Indicates the budget is not precise, but rather a general outline.

FAQs

How can I use "a tentative budget" in a sentence?

You might say, "The committee presented "a tentative budget" for the next fiscal year, pending approval from the board."

What's the difference between "a tentative budget" and "a final budget"?

"A tentative budget" is a preliminary plan subject to change, while "a final budget" has been approved and is ready for implementation.

What can I say instead of "a tentative budget"?

Alternatives include "a preliminary budget", "a draft budget", or "a proposed budget", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "a tentative budget"?

Use "a tentative budget" when discussing financial plans that are still under development and subject to revision before being finalized.