indication of plan

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "indication of plan" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a signal or sign that suggests a particular course of action or strategy. Example: "The indication of plan in the meeting notes suggested a shift in our marketing strategy for the upcoming quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

In the interview he gave no indication of plans to flee.

The New York Times

So far, Republicans give every indication of planning to portray Mr. Obama as just another big-government liberal.

The New York Times

The vice president, Abed Rabbo Mansour al-Hadi, is officially acting as president, but Mr. Saleh's son, Ahmed Ali Saleh, has moved into the palace, and neither he nor Mr. Hadi has shown any indication of planning for a real transfer of presidential power called for by Western and Persian Gulf governments.

The New York Times

There will be some new information in this revised draft, however: the wording of its highly questionable definition of broadband as an information service could figure into its legal future, for instance, as would any indication of plans to preempt state regulations, which those states may not agree with.

TechCrunch

If this casting, along with Sofia Boutella (Kingsman: The Secret Service, Star Trek Beyond) as the title villain, is any indication of plans going forward, then it would appear that Universal is trying to get outright movie stars to headline their monster movies.

Forbes

Nevertheless, this is the first indication of plans to fulfill one of President Trump's most oft-repeated — and ill-conceived and misguided — campaign promises.

Huffington Post

One senior American official, who declined to be identified by name because he was discussing an intelligence issue, said there were also indications of "planning for a more violent" attack on the government, but he gave no details.

The New York Times

There were no firm indications of plans for an attack to have been carried out today, but the US homeland security secretary, Michael Chertoff, said it was a "well advanced" scheme.

The Guardian

Esoteric statistics aside, Williamson's awe-inspiring athleticism would be sorely missed by college fans if he were to stop playing for Duke, and fortunately for them he's given no public indications of planning to do so.

The Washington Post

Jay Harman, the organisation's campaigns officer for faith schools and education, says it has received no indication of any plan for action by the DfE.

The Guardian

Obama wants to stop the slaughter and remove Assad, but there is no indication of a plan for an endgame, or even a next step — except, it seems, putting off any next step and any escalation.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "indication of plan" when you want to convey a preliminary or suggestive sense of a future course of action, without committing to specific details. It's useful when discussing potential strategies or intentions that are not yet fully formed.

Common error

Avoid using "indication of plan" when there is already concrete evidence or a fully developed strategy. In such cases, terms like "confirmed plan" or "established strategy" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "indication of plan" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It signifies the existence of preliminary signs or suggestions hinting at a future course of action or strategy, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "indication of plan" is a grammatically correct phrase used to suggest the existence of preliminary signs or hints regarding a future strategy or course of action. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase functions as a noun phrase and serves to communicate the consideration or development of a plan, without necessarily implying certainty. While examples are limited, the phrase maintains a neutral to professional tone, making it suitable for news and formal discussions. Use it judiciously to convey that a plan is emerging, but not yet fully defined.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Sign of intent

Focuses on the intention behind the plan, rather than just the plan itself.

Hint of a strategy

Emphasizes the strategic nature of the plan, implying a deliberate approach.

Suggestion of a scheme

Implies a more detailed and potentially secretive plan.

Evidence of preparation

Highlights the preparatory actions taken in anticipation of the plan.

Foreshadowing of intentions

More literary and suggestive, implying that something is about to happen.

Preliminary blueprint

Emphasizes the early and tentative nature of the plan.

Initial roadmap

Focuses on the structured and directional aspect of the plan.

Early projection

Highlights the forecast or prediction aspect of the plan.

First glimpse of future strategy

Stresses the initial and revealing nature of the plan.

Incipient planning

Highlights the very beginning stages of the plan.

FAQs

How can I use "indication of plan" in a sentence?

You can use "indication of plan" to describe a signal or hint that suggests a future course of action. For example, "The company's recent investments are an indication of their plan to expand into new markets."

What are some alternatives to "indication of plan"?

Alternatives include "sign of intent", "hint of a strategy", or "suggestion of a scheme", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "indication of plan" or "evidence of a plan"?

"Indication of plan" suggests a less concrete or certain idea compared to "evidence of preparation", which implies stronger support or confirmation.

When is it appropriate to use "indication of plan" instead of "confirmed plan"?

Use "indication of plan" when you're referring to something that suggests a plan is forming, but isn't yet finalized. A "confirmed plan" implies that the strategy has been officially decided.