an initial indication of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an initial indication of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a preliminary sign or signal regarding a particular situation or outcome. Example: "The survey results provide an initial indication of customer satisfaction levels."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

This was an initial indication of how the manager viewed Van Persie and by the end of the season the striker had been dropped by Van Gaal.

The Guardian - Sport

But, at the same time, an initial indication of this margin is necessary in the early design phase of such innovative systems.

Annals of Nuclear Energy

To get an initial indication of guest satisfaction with robots or artificial intelligence, we surveyed 94 guests in six hotels (including metro and airport), comprising 188 rooms (or robots).

Cornell University

These pores are an initial indication of active sites for sticking of particles.

Petroleum Science

This diagram is helpful in providing an initial indication of mixing relationships or geographical groupings.

Geothermal Energy

The diversity of deforestation and carbon stock estimates for Mato Grosso provides an initial indication of research needs to address source data uncertainties for REDD+.

Carbon Balance and Management

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

However we chose a pragmatic approach to give an initial indication on the feasibility of the concept as applied to QOF data.

BMC Health Services Research

However, the study provides an initial indication that tendency of clonal fragments to become lodged in the horizontal position could increase their probability of establishment.

Plosone

The ICC gives an initial indication concerning the relevance of the contextual level in influencing the individual level outcome.

Journal for Labour Market Research

Maps of the mean of PDC caused to each voxel seem to provide an acceptable initial indication of the causal areas in which also caused locations might show up because of ghost connections.

Human Brain Mapping

Due to this task being secondary to that of drug distribution, and further due to the lack of follow-up of these reported cases, it is thought that although these figures provide an essential initial indication of the presence of LF-related morbidity, these figures may underestimate the true burden morbidity [ 2].

BMC Infectious Diseases

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an initial indication of", ensure that the subsequent analysis or investigation builds upon this early assessment to provide a more complete understanding. It's not a definitive answer, but a starting point.

Common error

Avoid treating "an initial indication of" as conclusive evidence. It's merely a preliminary assessment that requires further validation and analysis. Failing to do so can lead to inaccurate conclusions and flawed decision-making.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an initial indication of" functions as a noun phrase acting as a subject complement or object of a preposition. It signifies a preliminary sign or hint regarding something, as shown by Ludwig's examples. The phrase often precedes a more detailed explanation or analysis.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

67%

News & Media

23%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "an initial indication of" is a versatile and frequently used expression that serves to introduce a preliminary sign or clue about something. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and widely applicable across various contexts, particularly in scientific, news, and formal business settings. While it provides a starting point for understanding, it's essential to remember that "an initial indication of" should not be taken as a definitive conclusion and necessitates further investigation. Related alternatives include "a preliminary sign of" and "an early sign of", which offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a preliminary sign of

Focuses on the sign being preliminary, highlighting its early stage.

an early sign of

Emphasizes the temporal aspect, indicating the sign appears early in a process.

a first glimpse of

Highlights the initial view or understanding gained.

an initial clue about

Replaces 'indication' with 'clue', emphasizing the hint or suggestion provided.

a tentative forecast of

Suggests a provisional prediction or estimation.

a rough estimate of

Implies an approximate calculation or judgment.

a starting point for

Focuses on the role of the indication as a basis for further investigation.

a first approximation of

Indicates an initial, not necessarily precise, assessment.

a basic understanding of

Highlights the fundamental comprehension gained from the initial information.

a surface-level assessment of

Emphasizes the introductory and potentially incomplete nature of the evaluation.

FAQs

How can I use "an initial indication of" in a sentence?

Use "an initial indication of" to introduce a preliminary sign or clue about a situation. For example, "The rise in temperature is an initial indication of potential overheating."

What phrases are similar to "an initial indication of"?

You can use alternatives like "a preliminary sign of", "an early sign of", or "a first glimpse of" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey. See more alternatives "here".

Is it okay to rely solely on "an initial indication of" when making decisions?

No, "an initial indication of" should not be the sole basis for decisions. It's a starting point that requires further investigation and confirmation. Consider it a flag that prompts further scrutiny, and never a conclusive answer.

What's the difference between "an initial indication of" and "a definitive conclusion about"?

"An initial indication of" suggests a preliminary sign or clue, while "a definitive conclusion about" implies a certain and final judgment. The former is tentative, while the latter is conclusive. Use "an initial indication of" when you need further proof.