preliminary arrangements

USAGE SUMMARY

"preliminary arrangements" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about the initial, basic preparations that need to be made before something can happen. Example: The event coordinator is currently working on preliminary arrangements for the upcoming conference, such as booking a venue and securing keynote speakers.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

"Make preliminary arrangements to find Candy a new husband," he said, "and pay my bills".

The New York Times

He was aware, that, for tax reasons, his possessions would have to be dispersed after his death, & he himself took charge of making the preliminary arrangements.

The New Yorker

Conversations with state representatives followed, and preliminary arrangements were made to bus a hundred Douglas students and fifteen chaperones to Tallahassee to address the state legislature.

The New Yorker

He said he had been asked to be the director of classical music programming for the coronation and as such had worked on the orchestral part of the program in addition to making preliminary arrangements for the ballet.

The New York Times

Mrs. Frothington Wagstaf president of the ACA, told about the ball of 1889; of the time the committee had in making the preliminary arrangements when Mrs. William Astor and Mrs. Stuyvesant Fish bot wanted to dance with Ward McAllister in the opening quadrile.

The New Yorker

VON RIBBENTROP: That came about as follows: In the time following the naval agreement, which was hailed with joy by the widest circles in England, I made great efforts to bring Lord Baldwin and the Fuehrer together, and I should like to mention here that the preliminary arrangements for this meeting had already been made by a friend of Lord Baldwin, a Mr. Jones.

Yale University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

As the Silverstein consortium had only recently signed its lease from the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, the policy was a so-called binder agreement a preliminary arrangement, to be finalised within a few months.

The Economist

JUBA, Sudan Northernrn and southern Sudanese officials have agreed to a preliminary arrangement on demilitarizing the border between them, the African Union said Tuesday, though some officials from both sides immediately expressed skepticism of the deal, particularly its ability to resolve the dispute over the contested Abyei area.

The New York Times

The corresponding decisions involve an initial offering schedule and preliminary DR arrangements for the following day.

Electric Power Systems Research

Cuba has requested visas for Mr. Castro and other top officials and has already discussed preliminary security arrangements with the United States Secret Service and the New York Police Department, the Foreign Ministry said.

The New York Times

By the time they got out, my great-grandmother had already started making preliminary funeral arrangements with the local preacher.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing formal documents, use "preliminary arrangements" to convey that plans are in the early stages and may be subject to change.

Common error

Avoid using "preliminary arrangements" when referring to confirmed or finalized plans. Use phrases like "final arrangements" or "confirmed plans" instead to indicate that the plans are settled.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "preliminary arrangements" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or the subject of a clause. It denotes the actions taken to prepare for something in its initial stages, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

21%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Wiki

13%

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "preliminary arrangements" is a noun phrase used to describe initial preparations or plans. Ludwig's analysis indicates that it is grammatically correct and suitable for both formal and informal contexts, particularly in news, media, science and academic settings. While not extremely common, its usage is well-established across authoritative sources like The New York Times and The New Yorker. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase conveys the idea that plans are underway but are subject to change, making it essential to use it appropriately to avoid confusion with final or confirmed plans.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

initial preparations

Focuses more on the actions taken to prepare, rather than the planning aspect.

early planning

Emphasizes the timing of the planning process.

preparatory steps

Highlights the individual actions needed as a preliminary measure.

basic arrangements

Indicates the most fundamental plans are being made.

first stage planning

Specifically refers to the initial phase of a larger planning process.

get the ball rolling

An idiomatic expression indicating the start of activity on a task.

laying the groundwork

Suggests setting up a foundation for future work.

starting to plan

A simple, direct way to describe the commencement of planning.

setting the stage

Implies creating the necessary conditions for an event or activity.

making headway

Suggests making progress but might not relate to specific planning.

FAQs

How can I use "preliminary arrangements" in a sentence?

You can use "preliminary arrangements" to describe initial preparations or plans. For instance: "The event coordinator is handling the "initial preparations" for the conference".

What's a good alternative to "preliminary arrangements"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "initial planning", "early planning", or "basic arrangements".

Is it appropriate to use "preliminary arrangements" in formal writing?

Yes, "preliminary arrangements" is suitable for formal writing when you need to indicate that plans are still in the early stages and subject to change.

What's the difference between "preliminary arrangements" and "final arrangements"?

"Preliminary arrangements" refer to initial, tentative plans, whereas "final arrangements" indicate that the plans have been confirmed and are no longer subject to change.