initial projection

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "initial projection" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to an early estimate or forecast of a particular outcome, often in contexts like finance, planning, or analysis. Example: "The initial projection for the company's revenue this quarter was set at $1 million, but we expect it to increase as sales improve."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

Many contracts are "cost plus," meaning there will be no penalty if a contractor wildly exceeds the initial projection.

The New York Times

The Xerox Corporation said yesterday that it had raised more than $1 billion in an offering of convertible trust preferred securities, double its initial projection.

The New York Times

Eight million Kinect devices were sold in its first 60 days, during the holiday season, far more than Microsoft's initial projection of five million.

The New York Times - Tech

It did not help that the initial projection used by international officials for planning purposes — 200,000 cases in six months — was an underestimate.

The New York Times

Earlier this month, Toyota lowered its loss forecast for the fiscal year through March 2010 to 200 billion yen ($2.2 billion) from its initial projection for a 450 billion yen ($5 billion) loss.

The New York Times

They still weren't at the initial projection of 20 in 1,000 viewers, but as momentum accelerated, the low end of the S-curve was soon a thing of the past.

Harvard Business Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

To the editor: Given the huge cost overruns of California's high-speed rail project, one has to wonder if initial projections were the result of incompetence or fraud.

Los Angeles Times

The estimated cost of building a light-rail Purple Line in the Maryland suburbs has risen by $220 million, making the project's new price tag of $2.37 billion almost double initial projections, according to a federal report released Wednesday.

The Washington Post

"It's very different from the initial projections".

The New York Times

Initial projections called for operating costs of $350,000 or less.

The New York Times

The Congressional Budget Office's initial projections were that almost half a million homeowners would use the plan.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "initial projection" when you want to emphasize that the forecast or estimate is preliminary and might change as more information becomes available.

Common error

Avoid presenting an "initial projection" as a definitive outcome. Clearly communicate that it's a preliminary estimate subject to change based on new data or evolving circumstances.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "initial projection" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It typically acts as a subject or object in a sentence, referring to a preliminary forecast or estimate. As seen in Ludwig, it is often used to describe anticipated values or outcomes in various fields.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

24%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "initial projection" is a commonly used noun phrase referring to an early estimate or forecast. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and appears frequently in contexts such as news, science, and business. When using this phrase, it's crucial to emphasize that it's a preliminary estimate, subject to change. Alternatives like "preliminary forecast" or "initial estimate" offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis. Avoid presenting an "initial projection" as a definitive outcome; instead, frame it as a starting point for further analysis and refinement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preliminary forecast

Emphasizes the forecasting aspect, suggesting an early prediction that may be subject to change.

initial estimate

Highlights the estimation aspect, indicating an early calculation or approximation.

original forecast

Focuses on the timeline, pointing to the first forecast made.

original estimate

Highlights the timeline, pointing to the first estimate made.

preliminary assessment

Suggests a more formal and analytical evaluation made at an early stage.

first prediction

Directly refers to the act of predicting something at the outset.

early anticipation

Focuses on expecting or foreseeing something in advance.

projected baseline

Indicates the starting point for future projections or comparisons.

starting forecast

Simple and direct way of referring to the first forecast.

initial outlook

Implies a broader perspective or viewpoint at the beginning of a process.

FAQs

How can I use "initial projection" in a sentence?

You can use "initial projection" to refer to an early estimate or forecast, as in: "The company's "initial projection" for sales was overly optimistic."

What is a synonym for "initial projection"?

Alternatives include "preliminary forecast", "initial estimate", or "original forecast" depending on the context.

What does "initial projection" mean in financial terms?

In finance, "initial projection" typically refers to the first forecast of revenue, expenses, or profits for a given period, which is often used for budgeting and planning.

How reliable is an "initial projection"?

An "initial projection" is inherently less reliable than later projections because it's based on limited information. It should be viewed as a starting point that will be refined as more data becomes available.