initial consultations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "initial consultations" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the first meetings or discussions held to assess a situation or gather information before proceeding further. Example: "During the initial consultations, we will discuss your needs and expectations for the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Set up initial consultations with each consultant after you have narrowed down your choices to 2 to 3.

WikiHow

This multicentre study examined the influence of patient demographic, disease status and psychological variables on clinical geneticists/genetic counsellors (consultants) behaviours in initial consultations with women from high-risk breast cancer families.

British Journal of Cancer

Start your search with these before you consult with an attorney who charges for initial consultations.

WikiHow

Initial consultations on constitutional reform were supposed to take place in September, but have not done so.

The Guardian

One of the requests that emerged from initial consultations with disabled people was for more assessments at home.

The Guardian

The opposition Conservatives criticized Goodale on Tuesday for failing to include parliamentarians from other parties in these initial consultations.

The Guardian

Specialists who are carrying out more operations also have less time to do initial consultations.

The Economist

The organisation's Uganda country director, Joshua Kyallo, said the initial consultations in 2007 had zeroed on the motorised pump as a way to take water to the health centre, before the water corporation's plans for Tiriri emerged.

The Guardian

What I found is that, during hourlong initial consultations, the designers provided by each company were more patient and courteous than I am as they explained the relative merits of things like drawer slides.

The New York Times

During the pretrial hearings yesterday, the psychiatrists acknowledged that they had feared for Ms. Katz-Bierenbaum's safety after initial consultations with her husband and that, as a widely established psychiatric practice that is legally binding in many states, they had warned her of the potential danger.

The New York Times

More than a decade ago in initial consultations with adopted children, I discovered that they wanted more chances to meet with other like-minded young people from similar backgrounds who can share their experiences, and the holiday camps provide just that.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When scheduling "initial consultations", clearly state the purpose and expected outcomes to ensure participants come prepared.

Common error

Avoid using "initial consultations" when referring to subsequent meetings or discussions. The term specifically denotes the first encounter.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "initial consultations" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It denotes the act of engaging in preliminary discussions or meetings, as shown in Ludwig’s examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

32%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "initial consultations" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase, denoting the first meetings or discussions in a given process. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across various contexts, including scientific, news, and general domains. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the initial nature of the meeting and clarify the purpose beforehand. Alternatives such as "preliminary discussions" or "first meetings" can be used interchangeably in many contexts. The phrase sees frequent use in authoritative sources such as The New York Times, The Guardian and BBC.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preliminary discussions

Replaces "consultations" with "discussions" while keeping the 'early' aspect.

opening talks

Emphasizes the beginning nature of the discussions.

first meetings

A direct synonym focusing on the temporal aspect.

introductory sessions

Highlights the introductory nature of the meetings.

early discussions

Focuses on the early stage of the discussions.

initial discussions

A synonym that emphasizes the first set of discussions.

exploratory talks

Highlights the exploratory or investigative nature of the talks.

preliminary meetings

A synonym for "initial consultations" that means occurring before something else.

kickoff meetings

Suggests a meeting to start a project or process.

first discussions

Replaces "initial" with "first" to emphasize the start of the consultation.

FAQs

How to use "initial consultations" in a sentence?

You can use "initial consultations" to describe the first meeting with a professional, such as "The lawyer offers free "initial consultations" to potential clients."

What can I say instead of "initial consultations"?

You can use alternatives like "preliminary discussions", "first meetings", or "introductory sessions" depending on the context.

What is the purpose of "initial consultations"?

The purpose of "initial consultations" is typically to assess a situation, gather information, and determine the next steps in a process or project.

Are "initial consultations" always free?

Not necessarily. While some professionals offer free "initial consultations", others may charge a fee. It's best to clarify this beforehand.