conservative expectation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "conservative expectation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where one is discussing predictions or assumptions that are cautious or moderate in nature, often in financial or statistical discussions. Example: "The conservative expectation for the company's growth this year is a modest increase in revenue, reflecting the current market conditions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

In the table, our "conservative expectation" for pension fund returns is based on the sponsor's asset allocation and on bond yields, recent hedge fund performance and historical stock market returns.

Forbes

Therefore, we chose a coefficient of 0.5 for a conservative expectation, resulting in a required sample size of 26 patients.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

We adopted the same value here as it equates to a conservative expectation of ∼20 causal SNPs on the ImmunoChip array for any disease and ∼1 in 20 genes having a cis eQTL in a given cell type.

Human Molecular Genetics

Calculating the potential dispersal range size of the least widely distributed clade in terms of occupied grid cells used for species distribution modelling (see below) should thus give a conservative expectation of the distribution range of a clade at the given hierarchical level.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

But it means that the conservative expectations that Boehner has been trying manage for the last two years are similarly unreasonable.

The New York Times

Mr. Eisner, who also spoke to financial analysts today, cautioned them that he maintained conservative expectations for the year.

The New York Times

Chief justice John Roberts, who was appointed by President George W Bush in 2005, has already been criticised by Republican presidential hopefuls for failing to live up to conservative expectations.

The Guardian

"On January 26th I wrote to you that we might reduce further our staffing levels if the economic circumstances became worse than our already conservative expectations for 2009.

The Guardian

The executives were bullish about prospects for emerging markets like China, Russia and South America, but set conservative expectations for Europe, where they projected a 2percentt increase, to 1.27 million vehicles sold.

The New York Times

The outspoken marriage therapist, mental health counselor and qualified pilot refuses to conform to conservative expectations of what a black woman can do and has become something of a social media phenomenon, accruing 50,000 followers on Twitter.

Independent

Pun Bandhu, an actor and one of the leaders of the advocacy group, questioned whether theater companies and producers are programming to satisfy what they assume are the relatively conservative expectations of white audience members.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When presenting a "conservative expectation", clearly outline the factors and assumptions that contribute to its cautious nature. Transparency builds trust.

Common error

Avoid presenting a "conservative expectation" as a guaranteed outcome. Even cautious predictions carry inherent uncertainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "conservative expectation" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "conservative" modifies the noun "expectation". It describes the nature of the expectation itself, indicating that it is cautious and restrained, according to Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "conservative expectation" is a grammatically correct and usable term for expressing cautious predictions or restrained outlooks, as confirmed by Ludwig. Its usage is relatively rare, primarily found in news, science, and business contexts. When using this phrase, it's crucial to clearly articulate the factors driving the cautious approach and avoid presenting it as a guaranteed outcome. Alternative phrases like "modest forecast" or "cautious prediction" can be used for similar meanings. According to Ludwig, this adjective + noun construction serves to set realistic goals, managing expectations effectively in uncertain environments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

modest forecast

Replaces "expectation" with "forecast", suggesting a prediction based on available data.

cautious prediction

Emphasizes the prudence involved in the prediction.

restrained outlook

Focuses on limiting the scope or scale of the anticipated outcome.

realistic assessment

Highlights the grounding of the expectation in reality.

prudent anticipation

Highlights the wisdom and care involved in forming the expectation.

guarded optimism

Conveys a limited degree of hopefulness while acknowledging potential risks.

sober expectation

Emphasizes a serious and thoughtful approach to the expectation.

tempered anticipation

Focuses on moderating the intensity of the anticipation.

measured projection

Suggests that the expectation is based on careful calculation and analysis.

conservative estimate

Replaces expectation with estimate, suggesting a numerical evaluation

FAQs

How can I use "conservative expectation" in a sentence?

You might say, "Our "conservative expectation" is that sales will increase by 5% next quarter", indicating a cautious forecast.

What is a good alternative to "conservative expectation"?

Consider using "modest forecast" or "cautious prediction" to express a similar meaning.

Is "conservative expectation" the same as "optimistic expectation"?

No, "conservative expectation" implies a cautious or restrained outlook, while "optimistic expectation" suggests a more hopeful or positive outlook. They are antonyms.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "conservative expectation"?

Use "conservative expectation" when you want to convey a sense of caution and realism in your predictions, particularly in contexts where overestimation could lead to negative consequences.