an initial hearing to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an initial hearing to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the first formal meeting or session in a legal context, often related to court proceedings or administrative hearings. Example: "The judge scheduled an initial hearing to determine the next steps in the case."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

If we are willing to give an initial hearing to this evidence, what conclusions can reasonably be reached?

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Statistics from the MoJ show that 1,297 suspects had had an initial hearing at a magistrates court up to midday on 17 August.

The Guardian

On Friday the former government employee was detained after an initial hearing at a court in Washington DC.

Independent

In the absence of congressional action, the Obama administration quietly accelerated the pace of deportation hearings for unaccompanied minors, aiming to cut the wait time for an initial hearing down to 21 days, a process referred to informally by civil rights advocates as the "rocket docket".

Vice

WASHINGTON — President Obama's legal advisers are considering asking Congress to allow the government to detain terrorism suspects longer after their arrests before presenting them to a judge for an initial hearing, according to administration officials familiar with the discussions.

The New York Times

We arrange a meeting with Sarah the following week, after the initial hearing, to explain the procedure to her.

The Guardian

The process from initial hearing to conviction and sentencing ― which routinely takes months, even years, in felony criminal cases ― was collapsed into a few hours for dozens of people at a time.

Huffington Post

An initial hearing relating to the lawsuit was planned last week, but the village asked for a postponement until mid-July so that it could collect affidavits from residents.

The New York Times

It's now stepped up action by filing a civil suit, due to get an initial hearing this Thursday, according to DeMorgen.

TechCrunch

He was refused bail in an initial hearing on June 7; his appeal is to be heard on Thursday in the Rwandan capital, Kigali.

The New York Times

"It's quite difficult to make an estimate on the timeframe because it depends on the courts, but we would expect to have an initial hearing with the High Court within the year," she added.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to the first formal meeting in a legal context, use "an initial hearing to" to clearly denote the beginning of the legal process.

Common error

Avoid using "an initial hearing to" when referring to the concluding stage of a legal process. "Initial" specifies the beginning, not the end.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an initial hearing to" functions as a noun phrase that introduces the purpose or subject of the initial hearing. Ludwig provides examples illustrating its use in legal contexts. It is used to indicate the starting point for legal or investigative proceedings.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an initial hearing to" is a phrase used to describe the purpose of the first session in a legal or investigative process. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and can be found in reputable sources such as news outlets and academic publications. Its usage is more formal, denoting the commencement of a legal procedure, and less common in everyday conversation. Alternative phrases like "a preliminary hearing for" or "the opening hearing for" can be used depending on the desired level of formality. Understanding the appropriate context for its use is key to effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a preliminary hearing for

Replaces "initial" with "preliminary", emphasizing the preparatory nature of the hearing.

a first hearing regarding

Uses "first" instead of "initial" for simplicity, and "regarding" as a synonym for "to".

the opening hearing for

Replaces "initial" with "opening", focusing on the start of the hearing.

a commencement hearing for

Substitutes "initial" with "commencement", highlighting the beginning of the legal process.

an introductory hearing for

Replaces "initial" with "introductory", indicating the hearing serves as an introduction to the case.

a beginning hearing for

Uses "beginning" as a direct replacement for "initial", keeping the meaning very similar.

a kick-off hearing for

Replaces "initial" with the idiomatic "kick-off", indicating the start of a process.

a launch hearing for

Substitutes "initial" with "launch", conveying the initiation of the hearing.

a starting hearing for

Replaces "initial" with "starting", directly indicating the commencement.

a preliminary examination of

Shifts from "hearing" to "examination", suggesting a more investigative focus.

FAQs

How can I use "an initial hearing to" in a sentence?

You can use "an initial hearing to" to describe the purpose of the first hearing in a legal proceeding. For example: "The judge scheduled "an initial hearing to" determine the next steps in the case."

What is another way to say "an initial hearing to"?

Alternatives include "a preliminary hearing for", "a first hearing regarding", or "the opening hearing for", depending on the specific context and desired emphasis.

What's the difference between "an initial hearing to" and "a final hearing"?

"An initial hearing to" refers to the first formal meeting or session in a legal process, while "a final hearing" signifies the concluding session. They represent opposite ends of the legal proceeding.

Is "an initial hearing to" formal language?

Yes, "an initial hearing to" is generally considered formal language, suitable for legal, official, or academic contexts. More informal settings might use simpler terms like "first meeting" or "start of the hearing".