indicative figure

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "indicative figure" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a figure or statistic that serves as a sign or representation of a particular trend or condition. Example: "The indicative figure for the unemployment rate this quarter shows a significant decrease compared to last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

"An indicative figure would be 1 percent," Ms. O'Sullivan said.

The New York Times

The Speaker's office said the £700,000 figure was an "indicative figure for planning purposes only" and that real costs were expected to come in lower than the previous year.

The Guardian

To Nielsen, the more indicative figure in the rankings is the total number of fans who made up that percentage: more than 1.2 million, the third most behind Los Angeles and Atlanta.

The New York Times - Sports

Of course, this is an indicative figure and corresponds to a simplification of a complex reality.

EPJ Data Science

Multiplication of these factors gives an indicative figure of around 18,500 possible pairwise comparisons of candidate products with alternative products for every common use.

Environmental Sciences Europe

This yields an indicative figure of roughly 2,500 cases of use-specific assessments of candidate products that may become necessary during the next years.

Environmental Sciences Europe

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

He is due to give broad, indicative figures for the next three years in the next two weeks after coming under intense opposition pressure.

The Guardian - Arts

Bacon's jackets for "Compulsion" (1956) and "Catch-22" (1961) are humble indeed, combining clear type, generous areas of blank color, and very small and not especially indicative figures that leave the book's contents up to the peruser's imagination.

The New Yorker

Mr Evans wrote: "It surely isn't too much to ask for reliable indicative figures, in a timely manner, so that we have the time to assess proposals and their impact, communicate them to our residents and implement them in a planned manner?

BBC

The Law Commission report on slavery in 1841 contains the indicative figures on the number of slaves, computed based on the population of specific castes of Pallar and Paraiyar.

Wikipedia

Most of the data presented in these two reports are indicative figures, which have been collected in published and unpublished reports, and therefore do not represent official statistics.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

If you need to present a preliminary estimate, consider the phrase “indicative figure” to express that the numbers should be taken with a grain of salt.

Common error

Avoid presenting an "indicative figure" as a definitive or final number. Always clarify that it is an estimate or a guide and may be subject to change based on further data.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "indicative figure" functions as a noun phrase, primarily serving as a subject or object within a sentence. According to Ludwig, it refers to a numerical value that suggests or points towards a particular trend or amount, rather than being a precise measurement.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "indicative figure" is a noun phrase used to describe a number that serves as an estimate or preliminary indicator. According to Ludwig, it's considered grammatically correct and is most frequently found in Science, News & Media, and Formal & Business contexts. While providing a general sense of scale, it's crucial to acknowledge that the figure is not definitive and should not be misinterpreted as a precise value. Alternatives such as "suggestive number" or "rough estimate" can be used depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

suggestive number

Changes "indicative" to "suggestive", emphasizing the figure's ability to imply something.

representative value

Replaces "figure" with "value", and "indicative" with "representative", highlighting the figure's typicality.

approximate amount

Substitutes "indicative" with "approximate" to convey an estimated quantity.

rough estimate

Replaces the entire phrase with a common expression denoting an educated guess.

ballpark number

Uses a colloquial term for an approximate or estimated value.

preliminary data

Shifts focus to the initial nature of the information.

projected total

Highlights the figure as a forecast or anticipation.

notional amount

Replaces "indicative" with "notional", which suggests a theoretical or estimated value.

estimated value

Focuses on the aspect of estimation inherent in the figure.

benchmark figure

Highlights the figure's use as a standard for comparison.

FAQs

How can I use "indicative figure" in a sentence?

You can use "indicative figure" to refer to a number that suggests a possible trend or value, as in: "The £700,000 figure was an "indicative figure for planning purposes only".

What's a good alternative to "indicative figure"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "suggestive number", "representative value", or "rough estimate".

What does "indicative" really mean in "indicative figure"?

In this context, "indicative" means serving as a sign or indication of something. It suggests that the "figure" points to a potential result or trend, but may not be exact.

Is it okay to rely solely on an "indicative figure" for decision-making?

While an "indicative figure" can be useful for initial planning or assessment, it's generally not advisable to rely solely on it for critical decisions. Always seek further data or analysis to confirm the "figure" or explore other options.