a working notion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a working notion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a concept or idea that is practical and applicable in a specific context, often as a preliminary understanding or framework. Example: "We have a working notion of how the project will unfold, but we need to gather more data to refine our approach."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Though they are more skeptical about whether audition parallels vision, Griffiths and Warren (2004) sympathize with a figure-ground characterization but suggest a working notion of an auditory object defined in terms of "an acoustic experience that produces a two-dimensional image with frequency and time dimensions" (Griffiths and Warren 2004, 891).

SEP

To arrive at a working notion of causality, and this is something that one had to attempt with even the flawed data available from the cross sectional studies available in Bosnia, it is the specific character of the meso-variable that matters.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The ecotype model of Cohan (2002, 2006) retains the requirement that entities constitute clades, but provides a very useful working notion of a set of organisms that are subject to similar evolutionary pressures due to their high relatedness and ecological similarities.

FEMS Microbiology Reviews

For one thing, she explained, her relations were horrified by the notion of a working woman in the family.

The New Yorker

An amateur spelunker, stooping to pocket a souvenir stone, began to reconsider the notion of a working subway tunnel east of Lexington Avenue as something other than a punch line about endless futility.

The New Yorker

But his sense of history as struggle had only intensified, for he had now come to his notion of a working class that had actively and heroically "made itself," and that moreover had come "within an ace" of starting a proto-socialist revolution in the early 1830's.

The New York Times - Books

He claimed this week that the program was not working, a notion that was quickly refuted by five other governors.

The New York Times

We've learned a ton while working on Notion over the past couple of years.

TechCrunch

Developers are already envisioning pedestrian-friendly residential and commercial projects along Main Street in which residents would not need a car to get to work, a notion taken for granted in New York but almost unthinkable in Houston.

The New York Times

It is easy to take Rescher's point out of context without realizing that he is working with a notion of luck that differs from the notion of "lack of control".

SEP

It's strange: as an artist I work with notions of self-portraiture, but I find looking in the mirror a challenge.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a working notion" when introducing a concept that is not fully developed but serves as a basis for further exploration or development. It implies a practical, hands-on understanding rather than a purely theoretical one.

Common error

Avoid using "a working notion" to describe fully-fledged or comprehensively validated concepts. This phrase implies that the idea is still under construction or refinement. Use "established theory" or "proven method" instead, for fully developed concepts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a working notion" functions as a noun phrase that describes a concept or idea that is practical and currently in use, but not necessarily fully developed or finalized. Ludwig's examples indicate its use in academic and scientific contexts to introduce concepts that are actively being explored and applied.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a working notion" is a phrase used to describe a concept or idea that is practical, applicable, and currently in use, but not yet fully developed. According to Ludwig, it’s grammatically correct and best used to introduce a preliminary understanding that needs further refinement. While not very common, the phrase is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, particularly in academic and scientific domains. Alternatives include "a practical concept" or "a functional understanding". Avoid using it to describe fully developed concepts as it implies ongoing refinement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a practical concept

Emphasizes the feasibility and applicability of the idea.

a functional understanding

Focuses on the idea's ability to perform its intended purpose.

a preliminary idea

Highlights the initial and potentially incomplete nature of the concept.

a basic framework

Suggests a structural outline that requires further development.

a tentative hypothesis

Implies a provisional explanation that is subject to testing.

an operative principle

Highlights the idea's role as a guiding rule or guideline.

a feasible approach

Stresses the possibility of achieving the desired outcome using the idea.

an initial assessment

Focuses on the evaluative aspect of the idea as a starting point.

a rough estimate

Emphasizes the approximate and potentially inaccurate nature of the idea.

a current model

Indicates a representation of a system or process that is presently in use.

FAQs

How can "a working notion" be used in a sentence?

You can use "a working notion" to describe a preliminary understanding or framework. For example, "We have a working notion of how the algorithm functions, but further testing is required".

What's a good alternative to "a working notion"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "a practical concept", "a functional understanding", or "a preliminary idea".

Is "a working notion" formal or informal?

The phrase "a working notion" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, although it's more commonly seen in academic, scientific, or professional environments.

When is it appropriate to use "a working notion"?

Use "a working notion" when referring to an idea or concept that is still in development or being actively used and refined, but not yet fully established. It implies a practical, hands-on understanding.