are tentative of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are tentative of" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be a misuse of the word "tentative," which typically describes something that is not certain or fixed. Example: "The committee's decisions are tentative of the final approval from the board."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Yet it was only last October (see picture above) that it breached $10 trillion, requiring an extra digit to be added to the famous debt clock off Times Square.All such projections are tentative, of course.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Yet there are tentative signs of a narrowing of positions between the two countries.

The New York Times

Figures for NBC and ABC are tentative because of local coverage of the NFL on network affiliate stations.

Los Angeles Times

In the final, she appeared to be tentative out of the blocks and had to work hard in winning in 7.40, holding off a strong bid by Kim McKenzie.

Los Angeles Times

The good news in global warming is that there are tentative signs of progress on all three of these fronts.

The Guardian

There are tentative signs of strengthening domestic demand in Mexico.

The Economist

There are tentative estimates of 25,000 people attending the climate march in Ottawa.

The Guardian

There are tentative signs of tensions easing elsewhere in Northern Ireland, too.

The New York Times

Granaries are overflowing, thanks to recent bumper crops.What is disturbing, though, are tentative signs of long-term change to the summer rains.

The Economist

In the United States, where the budget deficit remains high and President Barack Obama has pressed for more stimulus, there are tentative signs of an economic comeback.

The New York Times

There are "tentative signs of stabilization" in China but "it is too early" to tell how they will turn out.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When expressing uncertainty or a preliminary status, consider using alternatives like "are uncertain about" or "are hesitant regarding" for clearer communication.

Common error

Avoid using "of" directly after "tentative" when describing a state of uncertainty. Instead, use prepositions like "about", "regarding", or "in" for grammatically correct phrasing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are tentative of" is an incorrect construction. Grammatically, it seems to attempt to express a state of uncertainty or hesitation. However, as indicated by Ludwig AI, it's a misuse of the word "tentative". A correct usage would employ a different preposition or rephrase the sentence altogether.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are tentative of" is considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI suggests that it misuses the word "tentative". Although the intended meaning is to express uncertainty, better alternatives like "are uncertain about" or "are hesitant regarding" should be used. The phrase appears infrequently across various contexts, including news, science, and academia. Because of its grammatical flaws and limited correct usage, it's best to avoid this phrase in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are unsure of

Indicates a lack of confidence or definite knowledge.

are uncertain about

Emphasizes a lack of certainty regarding a specific topic or decision.

are hesitant regarding

Highlights a reluctance or hesitation in relation to a particular matter.

are cautious about

Stresses carefulness and prudence.

are doubtful about

Suggests skepticism or disbelief concerning something.

are skeptical of

Implies a questioning or doubting attitude.

are wary of

Highlights caution and a sense of potential risk.

are tentative in

Focuses on a cautious or experimental approach.

are provisional regarding

Highlights that something is subject to change or confirmation.

are preliminary in

Suggests an initial stage, not yet finalized.

FAQs

How to correctly use the word "tentative" in a sentence?

Use "tentative" to describe plans, agreements, or steps that are not yet finalized or certain. For example, "The meeting is "tentatively scheduled" for next week."

What can I say instead of "are tentative of" to express uncertainty?

You can use alternatives like "are uncertain about", "are hesitant regarding", or "are unsure of" depending on the context.

Is "are tentative of" grammatically correct?

No, "are tentative of" is not grammatically correct. It's better to use phrases like "are uncertain about" or "are hesitant regarding".

What's the difference between "are tentative of" and "are wary of"?

"Are tentative of" is grammatically incorrect. "Are wary of" suggests caution and a sense of potential risk, which is a different meaning than simply expressing uncertainty.