as a first guess

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as a first guess" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when making an initial assumption or estimation about something before further analysis or confirmation. Example: "As a first guess, I would say that the project will take about three months to complete."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

The new method presented here for the light end separation unit, applies exergy loss diagrams as a powerful tool in locating the weak spot in the distillation columns of the Brugma sequence (as a first guess) and change the structure of the sequence step by step to achieve the best sequence.

Applied Energy

This fault model solution is incorporated as a first guess into the tsunami forecast.

Geoscience Letters

Therefore, the G band intensity cannot be used as an absolute thickness measurement but rather as a first guess if the relative extinction cannot be measured.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Then a new method launched to yield relative permeability for miscible flooding which considered the shape factor bog as a function of pressure as a first guess and then inverted the final relative permeability curves by history-matching method.

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology

Still, as a first guess, which will work fairly well on music with strong beats in the preferred tapping range, the highest peak can be assumed to indicate the beat level tempo.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

This single result is used in Figure 1 as a first guess for where the equilibrium cation/oxygen/vacancy ordering field might be approximately located.

Chemistry of Materials

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

To deal with the "Paris" problem, Google Knowledge Search revives an idea first developed in the nineteen-fifties and sixties, known as semantic networks, that was a first guess at how the human mind might encode information in the brain.

The New Yorker

Half as much again is a reasonable first guess.

The Economist

These improvements make the 1/32° system a better dynamical interpolator of assimilated satellite altimeter track data, using a one-day model forecast as the first guess.

Journal of Marine Systems

Nevertheless, we decided to use the obtained N z) as the first guess in the attempt to reconstruct the spatial clustering properties of our sample.

Earth, Planets and Space

Using Saberi et al. nucleation and growth formulas [5] as the first guess and mathematical methods, nucleation and growth rate for the operating conditions illustrated in Fig. 1 are obtained as following equations: B 0 = 26.398 × M T 0.42 × Δ w 1.31 (49) G 0 = 1.333 × 10 - 4 × Δ w 1.53.

Applied Petrochemical Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "as a first guess", ensure it's followed by a clear indication that this is a preliminary assumption, subject to further refinement or verification. This adds transparency and avoids misleading the reader.

Common error

Avoid presenting information introduced by "as a first guess" as definitive or conclusive without proper validation. Always clarify that it is a tentative assumption.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as a first guess" functions as an introductory adverbial phrase. It modifies a statement by indicating that it's an initial estimation or assumption, intended to provide a starting point for further analysis or consideration. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

57%

News & Media

43%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as a first guess" serves as a valuable linguistic tool for introducing initial estimations across a range of contexts, predominantly in Science and News & Media. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. When using it, remember to signal that the estimate is preliminary and may require further validation. Alternatives like "initially estimating" or "as an initial estimate" can be used, keeping register and formality in mind.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as a preliminary estimation

More formal, stressing the preliminary nature.

as an initial estimate

Similar meaning with a stronger emphasis on the estimate itself.

as a starting point

Highlights the use of the guess as a foundation.

initially estimating

Focuses on the action of making an initial estimation.

provisionally assuming

Highlights the tentative nature of the assumption.

at the outset

Emphasizes the beginning of a process or consideration.

in the first instance

A more formal and emphatic alternative.

to begin with

Indicates a starting point for consideration.

for starters

An informal way to indicate an initial point.

for the sake of argument

Suggests making an assumption to explore a possibility.

FAQs

How can I use "as a first guess" in a sentence?

You can use "as a first guess" to introduce an initial assumption or estimate. For example, "As a first guess, I'd say the project will take about three months."

What are some alternatives to "as a first guess"?

Alternatives include "initially estimating", "as an initial estimate", or "provisionally assuming" depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "as a first guess" in formal writing?

While acceptable, "as a first guess" might be considered informal. For formal writing, consider alternatives like "as a preliminary estimation" or "at the outset" to maintain a more professional tone.

When should I avoid using "as a first guess"?

Avoid using "as a first guess" when presenting definitive information or conclusions that require high certainty. This phrase signals uncertainty and is better suited for exploratory or initial assessments.