initial determination

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "initial determination" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the first assessment or conclusion made about a situation or issue before further analysis or investigation. Example: "The initial determination of the project's feasibility will guide our next steps in the planning process."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Each agency or department makes the initial determination of who should be deemed a policymaker.

The New York Times

Under New York law, defendants who are in custody have a right to a quick initial determination about their cases.

The New York Times

Transatlantic previously made the same initial determination of Validus's bid — only to later reject it.

The New York Times

The commission majority found otherwise in its initial determination, after investigating the extent of the rivals' support in state Reform organizations.

The New York Times

In an appeal, MP3.com will no doubt have to address Judge Rakoff's initial determination that its fair-use defense was, as he reiterated yesterday, "without any merit".

The New York Times

"It is the administrative law judge's final initial determination that there has been no violation by any of the respondents," the judge's order said.

The New York Times

In an "initial determination" of a heated Reform Party dispute, the commission voted 5 to 1 that Mr. Buchanan is the legitimate nominee and entitled to the money.

The New York Times

The agency made its initial determination that the fish would be safe to eat and for the environment more than five years ago.

The New York Times

The agency's six commissioners will decide by May 23 whether to alter the initial determination by its chief administrative judge or let it stand.

The New York Times

The penalty of disqualification was waived by he Committee under Rule 33 as the Committee had previously reviewed the information and made its initial determination prior to the finish of the player's round.

The Guardian - Sport

The commission voted to make an "initial determination" that Mr. Sharpton had violated a limit on the amount of candidates' own money they can spend if they receive public campaign finance money, said Robert Biersack, a commission spokesman.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "initial determination", ensure the context clarifies whether it is a final decision or subject to change. If it is subject to change, consider adding a clarifying phrase such as 'subject to review' or 'pending further investigation'.

Common error

Avoid treating the "initial determination" as the final word. Always acknowledge that further information or analysis might lead to a different outcome. Otherwise, use the term "final determination".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "initial determination" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It signifies the act of making a preliminary decision or assessment, as exemplified in Ludwig's examples where agencies or committees make "initial determinations".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

56%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "initial determination" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe a preliminary decision or assessment. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, science, and formal communications. While often used interchangeably with terms like "preliminary assessment" or "initial assessment", it's essential to remember that an "initial determination" is not necessarily final and may be subject to further review. Therefore, avoid treating it as the ultimate conclusion prematurely.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

initial assessment

Direct synonym, replacing 'determination' with 'assessment' for a slightly different nuance.

initial evaluation

Similar to 'preliminary assessment', focusing on the evaluation aspect.

preliminary assessment

Focuses on the evaluative aspect, highlighting that it's a first-stage assessment.

first assessment

Emphasizes the temporal aspect of being the first evaluation.

early diagnosis

Implies a medical context, specifically identifying a condition at an early stage.

first diagnosis

Similar to 'early diagnosis', but places more emphasis on the diagnostic process.

initial diagnosis

Focuses on the diagnostic process at the beginning

preliminary conclusion

Highlights the aspect of reaching a conclusion, albeit a tentative one.

preliminary finding

Emphasizes the discovery of information at an early stage.

early estimation

Highlights the act of forming an approximate judgment or calculation at an early stage.

FAQs

How to use "initial determination" in a sentence?

You can use "initial determination" to describe the first decision or assessment made about something. For example, "The agency made its "initial determination" that the fish would be safe to eat."

What can I say instead of "initial determination"?

You can use alternatives like "preliminary assessment", "initial assessment", or "preliminary conclusion" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "initial determination" or "final determination"?

"Initial determination" refers to the first assessment, which might be subject to change. "Final determination" refers to the ultimate decision after all considerations. Choose the term that accurately reflects the stage of the decision-making process.

What's the difference between "initial determination" and "preliminary assessment"?

While closely related, "preliminary assessment" emphasizes the evaluative aspect, while "initial determination" suggests a decision, even if tentative, has been reached. The terms are often interchangeable, but their nuances can be important.