drafted a plan

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "drafted a plan" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the process of creating or outlining a strategy or proposal for a specific purpose. Example: "After several meetings, the team finally drafted a plan to improve our marketing strategy for the upcoming year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I drafted a plan.

The Guardian

She drafted a plan for residents to go door-to-door handing out recycling bags to every resident.

The New York Times

In response to 209, Demmons's staff has drafted a plan that would deemphasize written exams which often reflect racial bias.

The New Yorker

He drafted a plan adorning the city's squares with new and restored buildings and a rebuilt historic cathedral.

The New York Times

May drafted a plan for a linear city, with a green belt between bands of residential and industrial areas.

The Guardian

Terman drafted a plan, but he could not get it off the ground, largely because industry would not collaborate.

MIT Technology Review

Penn sat on his bed in his hotel room and drafted a plan for how to go forward.

The Washington Post

Inspired by a class called "Diversity in the Workplace," Liz Koenig, MBA 18, drafted a plan to push classroom discussions on race even further.

University of California, Berkeley

He has already drafted a plan to restore the old limit of 40%—although some in his coalition apparently favour a ceiling of only 26%.

The Economist

Officials drafted a plan to move much of the nation's passenger traffic onto high-speed routes by 2020, freeing existing tracks for more freight.

The New York Times

The Administration, meanwhile, drafted a plan for military commissions or tribunals for the prisoners, which could, of course, result in the imposition of the death penalty.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "drafted a plan" with specific action verbs to emphasize the execution or implementation phase. Example: "After drafting a plan, the team immediately began implementation."

Common error

Avoid using "drafted a plan" without providing some indication of the plan's content or goals. Vague references weaken the impact and leave the audience uninformed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "drafted a plan" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of creating a strategy or proposal. Ludwig examples confirm its use across various contexts. It suggests a deliberate effort to outline a course of action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Academia

17%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "drafted a plan" is a commonly used verb phrase indicating the creation of a strategy or proposal. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and widely applicable across various contexts. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media, followed by academia and scientific publications. While it maintains a neutral to professional register, its usage is versatile. When using this phrase, ensure the plan's purpose and scope are clearly defined to avoid vagueness. As alternatives, consider "formulated a strategy" or "developed a blueprint" for a more formal tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

formulated a strategy

Replaces 'plan' with 'strategy', suggesting a more comprehensive and deliberate approach.

laid down a strategy

Emphasizes the act of establishing a clear strategy, very similar to drafting a plan.

developed a blueprint

Substitutes 'plan' with 'blueprint', implying a detailed and technically specific design.

devised a course of action

Offers a more formal and detailed substitution for 'drafted a plan'.

conceived a scheme

Replaces 'plan' with 'scheme', which can sometimes imply a slightly less formal or even subtly manipulative approach.

established a framework

Implies setting up a structural basis for future action, similar to drafting a plan.

prepared an outline

Suggests a preliminary or less detailed version of a plan.

mapped out a project

Implies a visual representation or detailed layout of a plan, often used in project management.

sketched out a proposal

Suggests a more initial and less refined version of a plan.

arranged a procedure

Focuses on the sequential steps of a plan, rather than the overall strategy.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "drafted a plan" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "formulated a strategy", "developed a blueprint", or "devised a course of action". These alternatives, like "formulated a strategy", often convey a more professional and detailed approach.

What is the difference between "drafted a plan" and "created a plan"?

"Drafted a plan" implies an initial version that may be subject to revisions. "Created a plan" is more general, but using "drafted a plan" suggests a formal process, while "created a plan" is more generic.

When is it appropriate to use "drafted a plan" in writing?

It is appropriate to use "drafted a plan" when you want to indicate that someone has prepared a strategy or proposal, often in a preliminary form. This phrase works well in news articles, business reports, and academic papers. It's less formal than other phrases but very professional in its own right.

What are some situations where I should avoid using "drafted a plan"?

While generally acceptable, avoid using "drafted a plan" in extremely informal settings. Consider alternatives like "came up with an idea" or "figured out a way" if the context is casual. "Came up with an idea" is suitable for more informal communication.