formal examination

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "formal examination" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used to describe a specific type of test or assessment that follows a structured and organized format. Example: The students sat for a formal examination at the end of the semester to test their knowledge and understanding of the course material.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

After the formal examination, the examiner checks the patentability of the invention with regard to novelty, inventiveness, and applicability in industry, according to German patent law.

Science Magazine

There was no formal examination of the phones.

Yale University

Mr. Chirac is the first former president of modern France to be placed under formal examination.

The New York Times

Japanese custom dictates that a death cannot be confirmed until a formal examination has been made.

Independent

The formal examination of the wing part began only on Wednesday afternoon.

Independent

In patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia, formal examination by an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist may be required.

Nature

One thing the FA has decided against with its pro licence course is introducing a formal examination at the end, which is what happens in Germany.

The Guardian - Sport

At most, Chinese officials may offer Mr. Snow a loosening of some currency controls or a promise to begin a formal examination of its policies.

The New York Times

More specifically, a hearing is the formal examination of a cause, civil or criminal, before a judge according to the laws of a particular jurisdiction.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Although Medicare is not supposed to take cost into consideration when making such rulings, the decision to launch a formal examination has raised concerns among cancer experts, drug companies, lawmakers, prostate cancer patients and advocacy groups.

The Washington Post

Although the Crown Prosecution Service had declared Greville Janner unfit to stand a criminal trial last year due to his advanced dementia, a formal examination of the evidence against him had been scheduled for April.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "formal examination" to convey the seriousness and importance of the evaluation process.

Common error

Avoid using "formal examination" in contexts where a less structured or informal assessment is more appropriate. Using it too broadly can make your writing sound unnecessarily stiff or pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "formal examination" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It denotes a structured and official assessment or review process, as evidenced by Ludwig examples from science, news, and academic domains.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

32%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "formal examination" is a noun phrase used to describe a structured and official assessment or review process. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English. It is commonly found in academic, scientific, and news contexts, emphasizing the rigor and standardized nature of the evaluation. While alternatives like "official assessment" or "structured evaluation" exist, "formal examination" effectively conveys the seriousness of the process. Be mindful of overusing it in informal contexts to maintain clarity and avoid unnecessary formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

formal inquiry

Highlights the formal aspect of the inquiry.

official assessment

Replaces "examination" with "assessment" while maintaining the sense of an official review.

structured evaluation

Focuses on the structured nature of the evaluation process.

systematic review

Highlights the systematic aspect of the review or assessment.

detailed inspection

Emphasizes the thoroughness and detail of the examination.

comprehensive analysis

Indicates a complete and thorough analysis.

rigorous investigation

Suggests a strict and thorough investigation.

standardized test

Highlights the standardized nature of the test.

prescribed evaluation

Focuses on the pre-determined nature of the evaluation.

official inquiry

Highlights the official aspect of the inquiry or examination.

FAQs

How can I use "formal examination" in a sentence?

You can use "formal examination" to describe structured assessments or reviews, such as "The patent application underwent a formal examination to ensure compliance with regulations" or "A formal examination of the evidence was scheduled."

What are some alternatives to "formal examination"?

Alternatives include "official assessment", "structured evaluation", or "systematic review", depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "formal examination" and "informal review"?

"Formal examination" implies a structured, official, and thorough assessment, while "informal review" suggests a less structured and potentially less thorough evaluation.

In what fields is the term "formal examination" commonly used?

The term "formal examination" is frequently used in legal, medical, and academic contexts, as well as in patent law and other fields that require structured evaluations.