on a pilot basis

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on a pilot basis" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe a trial or test of an idea, program, system, or product. For example, "The organization will introduce the new policy on a pilot basis in a limited number of locations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Purpose / Objective The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Literacy Movement Organisation (LMO) decided to evaluate various aspects of the Project at the end of its one-year implementation period, on a pilot basis, in order to determine the success rate of the Project in achieving the set goals mentioned in the Project Document.

Unicef

What the Obama administration should have done was to test out its system on a pilot basis in one or two states before rolling it out nationally.

Huffington Post

Goals for life The four Child Ambassadors will serve on a pilot basis for one year.

Unicef

We can hardly arrange fuel for cooking two meals a day… How can we boil water and then cool it for drinking when we don't have a fridge?' After one year of the ICC functioning on a pilot basis, we evaluated its impact on the level of information of women who came into contact with the ICC directly, indirectly, or not at all.

BMC Women's Health

The New York Stock Ex change announced yesterday that the First National City Bank, one of the, nation's larg est, had joined the exchange's Central Certificate Service on a pilot basis.

The New York Times

ScanIt and paging services are being offered on a pilot basis.

Cornell University

This is not just theory – our method is already being run on a pilot basis in the north-west.

The Guardian - Opinion

It may be extended at a later date to future classes, on a pilot basis or otherwise.

University of California, Berkeley

Another national scheme, launched on a pilot basis last year, pays women to attend ante-natal check-ups.

The Economist

She asked a faculty committee last month to develop the curriculum by February and hopes to offer it on a pilot basis next fall.

The New York Times

There is also a training service, launched on a pilot basis last month, when 50 practitioners in 15 countries took part.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "on a pilot basis", clearly state the duration or scope of the pilot program to manage expectations and provide context.

Common error

Avoid implying that a pilot program is a permanent solution; ensure your writing reflects its temporary and experimental nature.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on a pilot basis" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to describe how something is being implemented or tested. It provides information about the manner of the action. Ludwig AI indicates its use is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Academia

17%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "on a pilot basis" is a grammatically correct and very common prepositional phrase used to describe the implementation of something in a trial or experimental manner. Ludwig's AI analysis confirms its correctness and widespread usage across various domains. It is frequently found in news, science, and formal business contexts, indicating a cautious approach to implementing new initiatives. When using this phrase, it's essential to communicate the temporary and experimental nature of the project clearly. Alternatives such as "on a trial basis" or "in an initial phase" can be used to vary your writing style. Finally, be clear about the scope and duration of the "on a pilot basis" implementation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on a trial run

Emphasizes the experimental nature of the implementation.

on a test basis

Highlights the evaluation aspect of the implementation.

on an experimental basis

Underscores the exploratory nature of the implementation.

as a trial project

Focuses on the project being a test case.

as a prototype

Highlights early design and testing phases.

in a limited trial

Specifies that the test is not wide spread.

in an initial phase

Highlights that the project is in the first stage of development.

to begin with

Implies that a full implementation is planned in the future.

on a provisional setup

Focuses on the temporary character of the implementation.

in a formative stage

Stresses the early days and developmental state of the project.

FAQs

How to use "on a pilot basis" in a sentence?

You can use "on a pilot basis" to describe the initial testing phase of a project or program. For example, "The company is introducing the new software "on a pilot basis" to a small group of users before a full rollout."

What can I say instead of "on a pilot basis"?

You can use alternatives like "on a trial basis", "on an experimental basis", or "as a trial project" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "on a pilot basis" or "in a pilot basis"?

"On a pilot basis" is correct. The preposition "on" is used to indicate the manner or condition in which something is done. "In a pilot basis" is not grammatically correct.

What's the purpose of implementing something "on a pilot basis"?

Implementing something "on a pilot basis" allows you to test the feasibility and effectiveness of a project or program before committing to a full-scale implementation. This helps to identify potential problems and make necessary adjustments.