at baseline

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at baseline" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the measure of a starting or original point, or the state of something before any changes or additions have been made. For example, "At baseline, the patient had a temperature of 98.6°F. After two weeks of antibiotic treatment, the patient's temperature came down to 97°F."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

at baseline [17].

Progress in Orthodontics

Each listener provided pretraining ratings at baseline.

Journal of Voice

At baseline MEDAS points were ~8.5.

Metabolism

Potential risk factors were assessed at baseline.

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

Lean body mass was decreased at baseline.

The Journal of Pediatrics

All patients had diastolic dysfunction at baseline.

International Journal of Cardiology

a Patients with anxiety at baseline, b patients without anxiety at baseline, and c patients with severe AIA at baseline.

International Journal of Bipolar Disorders

Age was measured in years at baseline.

Health & Justice

HRQOL questionnaires were assessed at baseline.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

At baseline, BPND values were essentially zero.

EJNMMI Research

Patients characteristics were similar at baseline.

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing experimental results, use "at baseline" to clearly indicate measurements taken before any intervention or treatment. This ensures clarity and avoids ambiguity in scientific reporting.

Common error

Avoid using "at baseline" when you actually mean to describe a control group. "At baseline" refers to the initial state of all subjects before any manipulation, while a control group is a separate group used for comparison throughout the study.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at baseline" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify when something was measured or observed. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to define an initial state before changes occur, evident in many examples provided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

100%

Less common in

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at baseline" is a grammatically correct and widely used term, particularly in scientific and academic writing, to indicate the initial state or measurement before any intervention. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriateness for describing starting points. While alternatives like "initially" or "at the beginning" exist, "at baseline" provides greater precision in formal contexts. When using this phrase, ensure you're not confusing it with descriptions of a control group, and prioritize its use in settings where clarity and accuracy are paramount.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the beginning

A simpler and more general way to indicate the starting point.

at first

A common phrase that can suggest a comparison with a later state or situation.

in the beginning

Similar to "at the beginning" but can refer to a broader, less defined start.

in the initial phase

Focuses on a specific early stage rather than just the absolute beginning.

at the start

Emphasizes the beginning phase of a process or study.

from the outset

Emphasizes the initial plan or intention from the very start.

initially

This alternative conveys the idea of something happening at the beginning or start but lacks the specific contextual reference point.

originally

Implies a change from the initial state, focusing on what was true at first.

at inception

Highlights the very moment something begins, which is more formal than "at baseline".

to begin with

Indicates a starting point but can also imply a sequence of actions.

FAQs

How is "at baseline" used in research papers?

In research, "at baseline" is used to describe the initial measurements or characteristics of participants before any intervention or experiment begins. It provides a starting point for comparison to assess changes or effects after the intervention.

What are some alternatives to using "at baseline" in a scientific context?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "initially", "at the start", or "at the beginning". However, "at baseline" is often preferred in scientific writing for its precision.

Is it correct to use "at baseline" in everyday conversation?

While grammatically correct, "at baseline" is more commonly used in formal or technical contexts, such as scientific research or data analysis. In everyday conversation, simpler phrases like "initially" or "at first" are more appropriate.

What does "baseline characteristics" mean?

"Baseline characteristics" refer to the demographic, clinical, and other relevant features of a study population measured "at baseline", before any intervention. These characteristics are used to assess the similarity of groups and to control for potential confounding variables in the analysis.