conducting a pilot

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "conducting a pilot" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in the context of testing or trialing a project, program, or initiative on a small scale before a full-scale implementation. Example: "We are conducting a pilot to assess the effectiveness of the new training program before rolling it out company-wide."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

And Earthlink, the nation's second-largest Internet service provider, is conducting a pilot test with BlackBerrys.

The New York Times - Tech

The FSA is currently conducting a pilot with five "systemically important" banks about how to devise living wills.

The Guardian - Business

Since October, the Merrick school district has been conducting a pilot study of the wireless devices among 125 fifth- and sixth-grade students.

The New York Times

Apple also is conducting a pilot program with Starbucks, with a broader rollout next year, while KFC will launch next spring.

The Guardian - Business

"I started in 1992 and that was really a time when not as many patients were exercising," said Dr. Alexandra Heerdt, a breast surgeon at Sloan-Kettering who is conducting a pilot program involving exercise.

The New York Times

"When it comes to crystal, there is no moderation," said Dawn Harbatkin, the medical director at Callen-Lorde, which is conducting a pilot study on ways to treat crystal meth addiction.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

The Army recently conducted a pilot project that provided some soldiers with smartphones.

The New York Times - Tech

Agencies could volunteer, for instance, to buy a small number of smart guns to conduct a pilot program.

The Guardian

At the East Mountain Youth Lodge, Dr. JoAnn Jarolmen, a social worker, conducted a pilot study on the horse therapy.

The New York Times

Though G.M. said it would conduct a pilot study of the vehicle in China, it offered no timetable.

The New York Times

The group has conducted a pilot study already.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the process of testing a new program or system, consider using "conducting a pilot" to clearly indicate a preliminary investigation. For example: "Before launching the new software, the company is "conducting a pilot" with a small group of users to identify potential issues."

Common error

While appropriate, overuse of "conducting a pilot" can make formal reports sound repetitive. Vary your language by using alternatives like "undertaking a pilot study" or "implementing a trial run" to enhance readability and maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "conducting a pilot" functions as a verb phrase, where "conducting" is the present participle of the verb "conduct", and "a pilot" serves as the object. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is frequently used to describe the act of undertaking or managing a preliminary study.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

21%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "conducting a pilot" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed phrase used across various domains, including science, news, and business. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase effectively communicates the action of undertaking a preliminary study or test before a full-scale implementation. Its neutral to formal register makes it suitable for professional communication, while its prevalence in authoritative sources underscores its widespread acceptance. When writing, consider alternative phrases like "running a pilot study" or "implementing a trial run" to avoid repetition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

running a pilot study

Focuses on the 'running' aspect as a process, similar to "conducting" but with a slightly different connotation.

undertaking a pilot project

Emphasizes the act of 'undertaking' or commencing a project, highlighting initiative.

implementing a trial run

Highlights the action of 'implementing' a preliminary test or 'trial run'.

performing a preliminary assessment

Stresses the 'performing' aspect of an initial evaluation or assessment.

carrying out a feasibility study

Focuses on 'carrying out' a study to determine viability or practicality.

launching a test program

Emphasizes the 'launching' or initiation of a program for testing purposes.

executing a trial implementation

Highlights the 'executing' or carrying out a test implementation.

initiating a pilot phase

Stresses the 'initiating' or starting a phase specifically for piloting.

starting a preliminary investigation

Focuses on 'starting' an investigation that is preliminary in nature.

doing a pilot analysis

Uses the more informal "doing" to describe undertaking a pilot analysis.

FAQs

How can I use "conducting a pilot" in a sentence?

The phrase "conducting a pilot" is used to describe the act of carrying out a preliminary study or test. For example: "The organization is "conducting a pilot" program to assess the feasibility of the new initiative."

What is the purpose of "conducting a pilot" before a full-scale implementation?

The purpose of "conducting a pilot" is to test the feasibility, effectiveness, and potential problems of a project on a smaller scale before committing to a full-scale implementation. This helps to refine the project and minimize risks.

What are some alternatives to "conducting a pilot"?

You can use alternatives such as "running a pilot study", "undertaking a pilot project", or "implementing a trial run" depending on the context.

Why is "conducting a pilot" important in research?

"Conducting a pilot" study is crucial in research to assess the feasibility of the research design, refine methods, and estimate parameters like sample size before undertaking a larger, more expensive study.