indicative date

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'indicative date' is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, you could write, "The indicative date for completion of the project is December 23rd."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Last year the EU adopted an indicative date of 2002 for the first new entrants.

The Economist

Last month François Loos, France's industry minister, said 2009 was "an indicative date" for competition rather than a firm deadline.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

* Note: Indicative dates depending on when the regulation will be submitted to Parliament (plenary session) and to Council for final approval.

European Parliament

The IPP system, which has been condemned as a national scandal by prison governors, includes more than 3,000 prisoners who had already passed their tariff indicative release date: "They're only released when they can demonstrate to the Parole Board that they are a minimal risk to society, which is the present test, but in a prison cell they will find it almost impossible to satisfy that test.

The Guardian

The cubical blocks of masonry, the flat buttress at the north-east, and the splaying, or widening, of the base of the walls, are all indicative of this date.

Wikipedia

"We have set an initial closing date for indicative offers for the business and assets for 12pm on Monday 18 May, after which we will be better able to assess the level of interest.

BBC

As interim results, they are only indicative of progress to date.

British Journal of Cancer

Mr. Ashcroft's critics have said his decision to speak at an institution whose policies included a ban on interracial dating was indicative of his insensitivity to racial questions.

The New York Times

"Cisco does not believe that its backlog, as of any particular date, is necessarily indicative of actual net sales for any future period," the company said in the filing.

The New York Times

For supplementation with protein or AA in sarcopenic patients, to date there are indicative results but not solid proof for beneficial effects.

Clinical interventions in aging

Determination of a vaginal plug on the following date was considered indicative of pregnancy and this time point was considered day 1 of pregnancy.

BioMed Research International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "indicative date", ensure it's clear that the date is not a firm commitment. Use it to convey a general timeframe or expectation rather than a guarantee.

Common error

Avoid presenting an "indicative date" as a hard deadline. Overstating its certainty can lead to miscommunication and unmet expectations. Always clarify that it's subject to change.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "indicative date" functions as a noun phrase, where "indicative" modifies "date". Ludwig's AI indicates that it's grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "indicative date" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to denote a projected or estimated timeframe. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is acceptable in written English. While the phrase is not very common, it finds application in news, formal business, and scientific domains. When employing "indicative date", ensure to maintain clarity that the specified date is not a binding commitment. Alternatives such as "projected date" or "tentative date" may offer subtle differences in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

projected date

Replaces "indicative" with "projected", emphasizing a forecast or estimation.

estimated date

Substitutes "indicative" with "estimated", suggesting an approximate calculation.

tentative date

Uses "tentative" instead of "indicative", implying the date is subject to change.

preliminary date

Replaces "indicative" with "preliminary", suggesting the date is subject to change after further evaluation.

suggested date

Uses "suggested" to convey that the date is a recommendation rather than a firm commitment.

target date

Employs "target" to indicate a goal or objective for the date.

anticipated date

Substitutes "indicative" with "anticipated", highlighting an expectation for when something will occur.

expected date

Uses "expected" to convey a belief that something will happen on or around that date.

approximate date

Replaces "indicative" with "approximate", suggesting the date is not precise.

potential date

Uses "potential" to indicate that the date is possible but not certain.

FAQs

How do I use "indicative date" in a sentence?

You can use "indicative date" to refer to a projected or estimated timeframe for an event or project. For example, "The "indicative date" for the product launch is late Q3."

What phrases are similar to "indicative date"?

Similar phrases include "projected date", "estimated date", or "tentative date". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "indicative date" a formal or informal term?

"Indicative date" is generally considered a neutral to formal term, suitable for business, academic, and news contexts. It's less common in casual conversation.

What's the difference between "indicative date" and "firm date"?

An "indicative date" is an estimate and is subject to change, whereas a "firm date" is a confirmed and fixed deadline.