indicative time

USAGE SUMMARY

The term "indicative time" is technically correct and it can be used in written English.
It is used to describe when something is expected to happen. For example, "We will begin the project at an indicative time of 10:00 a.m."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Formal & Business

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

When we see high retention rates over an indicative time period, we know the company has a sticky product and that it is keeping its customers happy.

TechCrunch

Methodology: The calendar presented in section 9.0 shows an indicative time line for these phases.

Unicef

Histone acetylation was recorded at six indicative time points during constant illumination.

Epigenetics and Chromatin

Accordingly, users should be informed about applicable deadlines or tacit approval or administrative silence arrangements or, if these are not applicable, at least of the average, estimated or indicative time that the procedure in question usually requires.

European Parliament

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

All activities and indicative times were tabulated, and a spreadsheet was created that modified a previously designed model in order to perform calculations according to the total sum of hours worked and the hours stipulated in the respective work contract.

Medicina Intensiva

A quantitative method was applied, the parameters of which were the number of procedures or tasks and the respective estimated indicative times for patient care-related activities within or outside the context of the DCCM, as well as for teaching and research activities.

Medicina Intensiva

From what we learn about Allwill, since early age, out of sheer natural impetuosity, he was given to some most extraordinary behaviour — the kind that would have appeared to an outside observer as indicative, at times, of a noble and compassionate frame of mind; at other times, of sheer foolishness.

SEP

FA began to play a significant role for the compressive strength after 28 days of curing, whereas NI did after 90 days of curing, indicative of time-dependent contribution of FA and NI to the development of compressive strength.

Materials & Design

Indicative run times for the training and application of the HMMs described above were recorded on two computing platforms.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Since we have observed no stable monomer in the extended (E ) conformation, the time-dependent intensity of the Ile382 E resonance arises from the active (extended) p66 subunit of the dimer and is indicative of time-dependent dimerization.

eLife

Such usage of extra-medical cues, even if shown to be indicative at times [ 17], could potentially lead to a patient's mistrust in the health care provider and facilitate a decline in the quality of doctor-patient communication [ 18].

BMC Infectious Diseases

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "indicative time", ensure the context clearly communicates that the time is not definitive but rather a suggestion or estimate. This avoids potential misunderstandings about scheduling or deadlines.

Common error

Avoid using "indicative time" when a precise time is required or known. Using it in such contexts can create confusion and undermine the reliability of the information provided.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "indicative time" functions as a modifier and noun combination, where 'indicative' serves as an adjective specifying the nature of the 'time'. It suggests that the time mentioned is approximate, estimated, or suggestive rather than precise.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

Formal & Business

25%

News & Media

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "indicative time" is grammatically correct but relatively rare in usage. It functions as an adjective-noun combination to suggest an approximate or estimated timeframe. According to Ludwig, its primary purpose is to provide guidance without committing to a precise time. The phrase is typically found in neutral to formal contexts, particularly in science, business, and news media. While Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness, it's crucial to use it appropriately, ensuring the context clarifies that the time is not definitive to avoid misunderstandings. Alternatives like "approximate time" or "estimated time" can be used for similar meanings. The best practice is to use it when precision isn't required, and it is important to avoid it if the goal is to communicate certainty. Top sources include TechCrunch, Unicef, and the European Parliament.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximate time

Replaces "indicative" with "approximate", focusing on the estimated nature of the time.

estimated time

Substitutes "indicative" with "estimated", highlighting that the time is a calculated guess.

suggested time

Replaces "indicative" with "suggested", emphasizing the recommendation of a time.

projected time

Changes "indicative" to "projected", indicating a forecast or prediction of time.

potential time

Uses "potential" instead of "indicative", suggesting a possible timeframe.

expected time

Replaces "indicative" with "expected", focusing on anticipated timeframe.

typical timeframe

Replaces "indicative time" with a noun phrase focusing on the usual duration.

average duration

Shifts the focus to the average length of something, instead of a specific time.

general timeframe

Uses "general" instead of "indicative" to suggest a loose estimation of time.

rough estimate

Indicates a less precise estimation, focusing on the approximation of time.

FAQs

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

Use "indicative time" to suggest an approximate or estimated time, such as, "The meeting is scheduled for an indicative time of 2:00 PM".

What's the difference between "indicative time" and "estimated time"?

While both suggest approximation, "indicative time" implies a more suggestive or guiding estimate, while "estimated time" often refers to a more calculated approximation.

What can I say instead of "indicative time"?

You can use alternatives like "approximate time", "suggested time", or "projected time" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "indicative time" in professional communication?

It's suitable when providing a preliminary schedule or plan where the exact timing is not yet confirmed, offering a guideline rather than a firm commitment.