pencil in the dates

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'pencil in the dates' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you need to remind yourself or someone else of important dates. For example, you might say, "I'll pencil in the dates for our meetings so I don't forget them."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Use online search resources to find out about movies in advance and pencil in the dates in advance, again, at least monthly.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Well, we can pencil in the date of that referendum on independence, which will now certainly happen.

The Guardian - Opinion

Be sure to pencil in the date it was served so you can keep track in case you need to ask what someone wants.

WikiHow

I've downloaded the MyPolitics UK app for my iPhone and I've pencilled in the dates of the party leaders' debates.

The Guardian - Opinion

But as you pencil in the release date of the fourth studio album in your planner (surely still moist from the tears shed when "Jelena" split) find comfort in knowing the singer and actress isn't letting the break-up bring her down.

Huffington Post

Labour MPs have long pencilled in this date as the moment they make their move, but Mr Corbyn played down expectations successfully in the Oldham by-election.

Independent

If you cannot finish a job in the time you planned, immediately pencil in a date on the calendar when you can return and complete the work.

The New York Times

So I suggest that you go to the website and examine the list of participating restaurants, check your calendar and pencil in a few dates for lunch and dinner, The three-course menus being offered are tremendous bargains for the price, and once again thank your lucky stars that you are living in the best restaurant city in the nation.

Huffington Post

All three governments talk about reining in spending, but they are composed of weak coalitions with limited scope and limited willpower to do so.Financial markets now pencil in dates as distant as 2009-11 before the three big countries are all safely inside the euro zone.

The Economist

Maybe we should just pencil in a date in Tempe, Ariz., some prime-time evening in the first week of January , 1992

The New York Times - Sports

If you'd planned to keep yourself accountable by talking with friends or colleagues about your progress, you might want to pencil in dates for these conversations.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pencil in the dates" when you want to indicate that a plan is tentative and can be easily changed. It's ideal for situations where flexibility is required.

Common error

Avoid using "pencil in the dates" when the dates are finalized and confirmed. It's best reserved for preliminary scheduling, otherwise you could be misleading your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pencil in the dates" functions as a verb phrase indicating a tentative scheduling. Ludwig provides examples where it's used to denote preliminary arrangements subject to change. It suggests an action of scheduling with the understanding that the details are not yet finalized.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Wiki

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "pencil in the dates" is a common and correct way to express a tentative scheduling of events, as validated by Ludwig. It implies that the arrangements are not yet firm and can be adjusted. It's versatile, appearing in news, wiki articles and even some scientific texts, as evidenced by the provided sources. While "pencil in the dates" is widely understood, it's best reserved for situations where flexibility is needed; confirmed plans should be communicated with more definite language. Alternatives like "tentatively schedule the dates" or "provisionally arrange the dates" offer a more formal tone if needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

schedule the dates provisionally

Replaces "pencil in" with a more formal verb, "schedule provisionally", indicating a tentative arrangement.

tentatively book the dates

Substitutes "pencil in" with "tentatively book", suggesting a booking that is not yet confirmed.

mark the dates on the calendar

Replaces the idiomatic "pencil in" with a more literal instruction to mark the calendar.

provisionally arrange the dates

Uses "provisionally arrange" to convey a preliminary scheduling of the dates.

block out the dates tentatively

Replaces "pencil in" with "block out tentatively", indicating reserving time but with flexibility.

put the dates down as tentative

Substitutes "pencil in" with a more descriptive phrase indicating the dates are not yet firm.

jot down the dates provisionally

Uses "jot down" to imply a quick, preliminary recording of the dates.

preliminarily schedule the dates

Replaces "pencil in" with "preliminarily schedule", emphasizing the initial nature of the scheduling.

mark the dates as potential

Indicates the dates are noted as possibilities, not yet confirmed plans.

add the dates to the agenda tentatively

Implies the dates are included in a plan, but subject to change.

FAQs

How can I use "pencil in the dates" in a sentence?

You can use "pencil in the dates" to suggest a tentative arrangement. For example, "Let's "pencil in the dates" for the conference, but we might need to adjust them later."

What does "pencil in" actually mean?

The phrase "pencil in" means to schedule something provisionally or tentatively, implying that the arrangement is not yet final and could be changed, much like writing something in pencil allows for easy erasure and correction.

Are there any formal alternatives to "pencil in the dates"?

Yes, more formal alternatives include "tentatively schedule the dates" or "provisionally arrange the dates", which convey a similar meaning but in a more professional tone.

Is it ever incorrect to use the phrase "pencil in the dates"?

It would be inappropriate to use "pencil in the dates" if the scheduling is definite and fixed. Using it in that context would imply uncertainty where none exists, potentially causing confusion.