a tentative deadline

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a tentative deadline" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a deadline that is not yet finalized and may change. Example: "We have set a tentative deadline for the project completion by the end of next month, but it may be adjusted based on team feedback."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The committee has a tentative deadline of April 14 to reach its conclusion.

The New York Times

Legislators named the 10 members of a bipartisan committee on Thursday that will decide whether Gov. John G. Rowland should be impeached, and gave them a tentative deadline of April 14.

The New York Times

Even as US and Iranian negotiators pursue talks over Iran's nuclear programme, with a tentative deadline approaching in two weeks, the realities of the war on Isis and its extremist Sunni Salafi ideology have bound the two powers together in unprecedented ways.

The Guardian - Opinion

Delta Air Lines and the union representing pilots agreed today to make a joint application for federal mediation and to set a negotiating schedule with a tentative deadline of April 1. "We view this as a positive development that provides for a relatively short, finite time frame to complete our contract negotiations," said Capt.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Mr Wowereit craved the spotlight just one last time.He will formally step down on December 11th, a day before the airport's board is due to announce yet another tentative deadline for its first flights.

The Economist

Although they missed the deadline, a tentative accord was struck soon after, on 2 April.

BBC

Even though Mr. Bush had previously announced his intent to prevent a strike, Northwest and the union began a marathon negotiating session in Washington on Wednesday in an attempt to reach a tentative agreement before the strike deadline at midnight Sunday.

The New York Times

But the judges stopped short of selecting a new date, asking lawyers with the state Democratic and Republican Parties to outline new candidate filing periods and other deadlines using May 29 as a tentative date.

The New York Times

Delta Air Lines and its pilots reached a tentative contract settlement one week before a strike deadline.

The New York Times

Consolidated Edison and the union representing 9,200 of its workers averted a strike yesterday, reaching a tentative contract settlement four hours after a midnight deadline.

The New York Times

Minutes before the midnight strike deadline, the Chicago Teachers Union came to a tentative contract agreement with the city's education board.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "a tentative deadline" with an explanation of the conditions that would make the deadline firm to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid treating a "tentative deadline" as if it were set in stone. In project management, changes are common, and rigidity regarding a tentative deadline can lead to unnecessary stress and complications. Always confirm and re-confirm the deadline as the project progresses.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a tentative deadline" functions as a noun phrase, where "tentative" modifies the noun "deadline". Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It specifies that the deadline is not final and subject to change, a common function in planning and project management.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a tentative deadline" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase in English, as validated by Ludwig AI. It denotes a preliminary or provisional deadline that may be subject to change. While it is most commonly found in news and media, it's also acceptable in professional and scientific contexts. Remember to use it when flexibility is needed and ensure that all parties understand the deadline's non-final nature. Alternatives include phrases like "provisional deadline", "preliminary deadline", and "estimated deadline", offering varied options to express the same concept.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a provisional deadline

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

a preliminary deadline

Uses "preliminary" instead of "tentative", highlighting that the deadline is subject to change.

an estimated deadline

Substitutes "tentative" with "estimated", suggesting that the deadline is an approximation.

a proposed deadline

Employs "proposed" in place of "tentative", indicating that the deadline is under consideration.

a target deadline

Replaces "tentative" with "target", suggesting a desired but not guaranteed timeframe.

a soft deadline

Uses "soft" to convey the flexibility of the deadline compared to a firm one.

a flexible deadline

Similar to "soft deadline", but explicitly states the characteristic of being adaptable.

a projected deadline

Focuses on the aspect of projecting or forecasting the deadline.

a speculative deadline

Highlights the uncertain nature of the deadline, emphasizing that it's based on speculation.

a working deadline

Suggests that the deadline is used for planning and progress tracking, but is subject to adjustments.

FAQs

What does "a tentative deadline" mean?

The phrase "a tentative deadline" refers to a preliminary or provisional deadline that is subject to change. It's not a firm or fixed date.

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

You can use alternatives like "a provisional deadline", "a preliminary deadline", or "an estimated deadline" depending on the context.

How do I communicate that a deadline is tentative without using the word "tentative"?

You could say the deadline is "subject to change", "not yet confirmed", or "provisional".

Is it professional to use "a tentative deadline" in business communication?

Yes, it is acceptable to use "a tentative deadline" in professional contexts, but always ensure clarity about the possibility of changes. Using phrases like "a proposed deadline" or "a working deadline" can also convey a similar meaning.