initial indicator of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "initial indicator of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a preliminary sign or signal that suggests a particular condition or outcome. Example: "The initial indicator of the project's success was the positive feedback from the first round of testing."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

The authors accept that the research, while wide-ranging, cannot prove definitively why people use food banks or how many use them, but argue that it provides an initial indicator of the scale and prevalence of issues leading people to accept charity food, and call on ministers to commission more authoritative data on food insecurity, as happens in the US and Canada.

The Guardian

The variety seen here is an initial indicator of the diversity in image fusion approaches.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

Because our initial indicator of infection was behavior, infection status of each ant was later checked.

BMC Ecology

Their early accumulation was the initial indicator of the ablation neocortical phenotype, which never occurred in their absence.

ASN Neuro

With the aim of establishing an initial indicator of the possible therapeutic index for the hit structures, the HepG2 cytotoxicity of each antimycobacterial hit was evaluated.

ChemMedChem

Prolongation of PT reflects the depletion of hemostatic factors in patients with severe sepsis and may be an initial indicator of disseminated intravascular coagulopathy [ 19].

Critical Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Only two studies measured at the level of the individual plant and only two studies included initial indicators of plant size or other biological starting point.

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment

Conversely, landscape metrics might serve as initial indicators of potential noise and air pollution in residential areas in cases in which no measured data are available, e.g., for planning purposes.

Landscape and Urban Planning

Our results suggest that using threshold values of either potentially toxic cyanobacteria density counted using a rapid screening protocol or chlorophyll a concentration serve as initial indicators of potentially high levels of cyanotoxin; however, the utility of chlorophyll a is system-dependent.

Harmful Algae

"The face and skin are initial indicators of the state of our internal organs.

Forbes

Employers told the panel that they only saw grades A to C in English, Welsh and maths as "initial indicators" of ability.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "initial indicator of", ensure that you provide context about what the indicator suggests. Clarity is key when presenting preliminary information.

Common error

Avoid presenting an "initial indicator of" as conclusive evidence. It's a starting point, not a final answer.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "initial indicator of" functions as a noun phrase that identifies a preliminary sign or signal. Ludwig's examples show it used across diverse fields like science and news, suggesting its broad applicability in introducing early trends or symptoms.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

80%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "initial indicator of" is a useful way to introduce a preliminary sign or signal suggesting a trend or condition. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and sees usage across various domains, particularly in science and news reporting. When using "initial indicator of", remember that it denotes a starting point and not a definitive conclusion. Alternatives such as "preliminary sign of" or "early signal of" can provide similar meanings, though nuances may vary. Always aim for clarity and context when presenting "initial indicator of" to ensure your audience understands the suggestive nature of the information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preliminary sign of

Replaces 'indicator' with 'sign', emphasizing the suggestive nature of the first clue.

early signal of

Substitutes 'initial' with 'early' and 'indicator' with 'signal', highlighting the temporal aspect of the first sign.

first sign of

Replaces 'initial indicator' with 'first sign' simplifying the expression to its core meaning.

preliminary indication of

Replaces 'indicator' with 'indication', offering a more formal synonym.

early indication of

Similar to 'preliminary indication of' but uses 'early' to emphasize the timing.

starting point for

Shifts the focus to the beginning of a process or investigation.

early warning sign of

Adds a sense of caution or urgency to the indication.

initial evidence of

Changes from 'indicator' to 'evidence', suggesting stronger support.

lead indicator for

Emphasizes the predictive capability of the initial sign.

a bellwether for

Uses a more figurative term, 'bellwether', to indicate a leading trend.

FAQs

How can I use "initial indicator of" in a sentence?

Use "initial indicator of" to introduce a preliminary sign or signal that suggests a particular condition or outcome. For example, "The increase in website traffic was an initial indicator of the campaign's success."

What is a good alternative to "initial indicator of"?

Alternatives include "preliminary sign of", "early signal of", or "first sign of", depending on the specific context.

How do I avoid overstating the importance of an "initial indicator of"?

Clearly state that it is a preliminary finding and that further investigation is needed to confirm the trend or condition.

What's the difference between "initial indicator of" and "conclusive evidence of"?

"Initial indicator of" suggests a starting point or early sign, while "conclusive evidence of" implies definitive proof or confirmation. Use "initial indicator of" when presenting preliminary data and "conclusive evidence of" when you have solid proof.