it is premature to say

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it is premature to say" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when indicating that it is too early to make a judgment or conclusion about a situation. Example: "While the project is still in its early stages, it is premature to say whether it will be successful or not."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

It is premature to say more at this stage".

The New York Times

"I think it is premature to say that Mr. Powell has failed," Mr. Muasher said.

The New York Times

So far it is premature to say what is behind this attack".

The New York Times

I think it is premature to say Alcatel-Lucent has turned the corner".

The New York Times - Tech

"It is premature to say this is a victory for us," says Pervez Imroz, a human-rights lawyer in Srinagar.

The Economist

Stephen Roach of Morgan Stanley argues that it is premature to say that decoupling has been truly tested.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

"It's premature to say".

The New York Times

It's premature to say this is catastrophic.

The New Yorker

"It's premature to say they can contend this year.

The New York Times - Sports

Liow said it was premature to say whether the search could be expanded beyond then.

The Guardian

She also told reporters, It's premature to say this is catastrophic.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it is premature to say" when you want to express caution about making definitive statements before having all the facts. It's particularly useful in professional and academic settings where accuracy and careful consideration are valued.

Common error

While "it is premature to say" is a useful hedge, overuse can make your writing sound hesitant or indecisive. Vary your language by using alternatives like "it's too early to conclude" or "more information is needed" to maintain a confident tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is premature to say" functions as a hedging device. It modifies a statement to express uncertainty or caution about making a definitive claim. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in contexts where drawing conclusions would be speculative, highlighting a need for more information before committing to a judgment. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase as correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it is premature to say" serves as a cautious hedge, commonly used to express reservation about making definitive statements without sufficient information. Appearing predominantly in news and media, as well as scientific and formal business contexts, this phrase aims to avoid hasty judgments, reflecting the need for further analysis before forming conclusions. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English, marking it as a practical tool for nuanced communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's too early to tell

This alternative emphasizes the lack of sufficient information to form an opinion.

it's too soon to say

Similar to the original phrase, but uses 'soon' to indicate the temporal aspect of prematurity.

we can't draw any conclusions yet

Directly states that forming a conclusion is impossible at the present moment.

it is not yet possible to determine

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes the impossibility of making a determination at the current time.

a conclusion cannot be drawn at this stage

This is a formal way of saying that there isn't enough evidence to formulate conclusions.

it remains to be seen

This implies that the outcome is uncertain and will only be revealed in the future.

judgment would be precipitate at this point

This alternative uses more sophisticated vocabulary to convey the idea of a hasty judgment.

it's jumping the gun to suggest

This idiomatic alternative suggests acting or speaking too soon.

it's unwise to speculate at this juncture

This suggests that making predictions is not a good idea in the present situation.

the situation is still developing

This alternative suggests that the situation is ongoing and not yet complete.

FAQs

How can I use "it is premature to say" in a sentence?

You can use "it is premature to say" when you believe further information is needed before making a determination about something. For instance, "Regarding the success of the new marketing campaign, "it is premature to say" whether it will be successful until we analyze the end-of-quarter reports."

What can I say instead of "it is premature to say"?

You can use alternatives like "it's too early to tell", "it's too soon to say", or "more information is needed" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "it is premature to say" or "it's too early to conclude"?

Both "it is premature to say" and "it's too early to conclude" are valid. The choice depends on the level of formality you want to convey. "It is premature to say" is slightly more formal.

When is it appropriate to use "it is premature to say"?

Use "it is premature to say" when you want to express that a final judgment or conclusion cannot be reached due to a lack of sufficient information or because the situation is still unfolding. It's useful in situations where speculating could be misleading or unhelpful.