initial screening

USAGE SUMMARY

"initial screening" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referencing a preliminary evaluation of something before a more detailed evaluation. Example sentence: "The initial screening of applicants revealed that only a few met the requirements for the job."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That could get you past the initial screening.

The New York Times

"The initial screening revealed no evidence of health issues.

The Washington Post

The initial screening yielded 523 articles.

International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

After an initial screening phase, top candidates will be interviewed.

Stanford University

But women deemed high risk after the initial screening will be offered the new test.

The Guardian

I haven't seen the film since the initial screening for cast and crew.

The Guardian - Film

About 2,000 of those cleared the initial screening.

The New York Times

It was found after a tip-off and was not picked up by initial screening.

The Guardian

The method can be used directly after an initial screening.

Data Handling in Science and Technology

"Credible fear" interviews are conducted by immigration authorities as an initial screening for asylum requests.

The Guardian

Manning received an initial screening but no regular therapy, the report said.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair this phrase with clear outcomes, such as "passing", "clearing" or "yielding results", to show progress.

Common error

Avoid using tautologies like "first initial screening". Since "initial" already means first, adding "first" is redundant. Simply write "the initial screening" or "the first screening".

Linguistic Context

In a sentence, "initial screening" functions as a compound noun phrase where "initial" serves as an attributive adjective modifying the gerund noun "screening". According to Ludwig AI, it typically acts as the subject or object of a sentence describing the commencement of an evaluative protocol.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

25%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "initial screening" is an essential tool for writers across various high-stakes fields. Ludwig AI confirms that it is widely accepted as the standard way to refer to the first stage of any evaluation process, whether it be medical, professional or academic. With high quality scores from sources like The New Yorker and The Guardian, you can use it with total confidence. It is most effective when used to distinguish the preliminary phase from subsequent, more in-depth analyses. Remember to avoid redundancy and keep the context clear for your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preliminary screening

Focuses on the fact that the check happens before the main event.

first-round screening

Explicitly refers to the sequential nature of a selection process.

first-stage screening

Directly identifies the phase within a larger system.

initial assessment

Uses a more general term for evaluation rather than filtering.

initial evaluation

Implies a more analytical review than a simple screen.

initial review

Often used in administrative or editorial contexts.

upfront screening

Less formal, emphasizing that the check occurs at the very beginning.

preliminary check

Simpler and more informal than screening.

introductory screening

Rarely used, suggesting an orientation or beginning phase.

early detection

Common in medical contexts to describe finding a condition early.

FAQs

How to use "initial screening" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a starting phase, for example: "The initial screening of candidates helped us narrow the pool to five finalists."

What can I say instead of "initial screening"?

Depending on your context, you can use "preliminary screening", "initial assessment" or "first round of interviews".

Is "initial screening" formal?

Yes, it is highly appropriate for professional, academic and scientific writing. It appears frequently in medical research and corporate recruitment documentation.

What is the difference between "initial screening" and "final selection"?

The "initial screening" is the filtering process at the start to remove unsuitable options, whereas the "final selection" is the last decision made to choose the winner or best candidate.