preliminary chat

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "preliminary chat" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to an initial conversation or discussion that serves as a precursor to a more detailed or formal meeting. Example: "Before we dive into the main agenda, let's have a preliminary chat to outline our goals for the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

We met in his dressing room, where he was completing his preparations, and after a preliminary chat about friends in common (my sister knew his makeup artist) we were filmed walking together right to the point where he stepped out in front of the crowd.

Independent

After a discreet preliminary chat with Mr Marshall in a seafood restaurant in Southsea, he arranged for them to meet again over breakfast in a Wimpy bar in London Road in Southampton.In this humble and anonymous venue, Mr Bacher offered the West Indian paceman "one million United States dollars" for a three-month tour of South Africa and a contract to play for the Transvaal.

The Economist

Could it rest with a man who guided Britain's cyclists to gold in seven of the 10 events at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and confesses to never watching sport on TV? Steve Peters, sport psychiatrist and psychologist, has agreed to spend time with O'Sullivan  and has already had a preliminary chat on the phone.

BBC

During this preliminary chat look for signs if the person is nervous and scared, prone to bragging, confident or not.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Strauss said he had held "preliminary chats" with Flower about the 50-over squad ahead of the selection meeting.

The Guardian - Sport

I believe the Dutch and Belgians have had preliminary chats, there have been chats in Scandinavia, Slovakia and Czech Republic, Lithuania-Latvia.

BBC

Once you are lucky enough to obtain an interview, even a preliminary online chat or telephone call -- which are essentially filters to separate the dull from the intriguing -- you have to seize that brief moment to impress the interviewer with your uniqueness.

Huffington Post

After a preliminary, and unexpectedly revealing, chat with a death row chaplain, Mr. Herzog plunges into what you might call the philosophical forensics of the Conroe murders.

The New York Times

"The government's measures to tackle the financial crisis have shown preliminary results," Mr. Wen said during an online chat with the public on the government's Web site on Sunday.

The New York Times

The chat is gratis, as is the preliminary sketching.

Forbes

The presenter is Peter Deng, the product manager for Facebook Chat, who made it clear that this is a preliminary version of the product.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "preliminary chat" to set expectations for a less formal or in-depth discussion, before moving onto more serious topics.

Common error

Avoid using "preliminary chat" in formal reports or academic papers; opt for terms like "initial discussion" or "introductory consultation" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "preliminary chat" functions as a noun phrase, acting as a subject or object in a sentence. It refers to an initial, often informal, conversation that precedes a more formal discussion or activity. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

25%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "preliminary chat" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe an initial, often informal conversation before a more formal discussion or meeting. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While versatile, it's most common in news and media contexts. For more formal settings, consider alternatives like "initial discussion" or "introductory conversation". The phrase holds a neutral tone and serves primarily to introduce a topic or build rapport before more in-depth engagement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

initial conversation

Focuses on the beginning nature of the exchange, highlighting it as a conversation.

introductory discussion

Emphasizes the role of the chat as an introduction to a broader topic.

early discussion

Focuses on the timing, emphasizing it's happening at an early stage.

briefing session

Implies a more structured and informative purpose to the initial chat.

pre-meeting discussion

Specifies that the chat occurs before a more formal meeting.

initial consultation

Suggests a professional context where advice or guidance is being sought.

exploratory talk

Highlights the exploratory nature, aiming to uncover initial ideas or concerns.

initial dialogue

Suggests a two-way conversation to clarify positions.

initial exchange

Highlights a simple exchange of pleasantries.

warm-up discussion

Suggests that the chat is intended to relax and prepare the participants.

FAQs

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

You can use "preliminary chat" to describe an initial conversation before a more formal meeting or discussion. For example, "After a "preliminary chat", we moved on to the main agenda".

What is another way to say "preliminary chat"?

Alternatives to "preliminary chat" include "initial conversation", "introductory discussion", or "briefing session", depending on the context.

Is "preliminary chat" suitable for formal writing?

While "preliminary chat" is acceptable in many contexts, for formal writing, consider using more professional terms like "initial discussion" or "introductory consultation".

What's the difference between "preliminary chat" and "initial meeting"?

"Preliminary chat" implies a less formal, often shorter conversation, whereas "initial meeting" suggests a more structured and potentially longer gathering.