preliminary determination

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "preliminary determination" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where an initial or early decision or conclusion is being discussed, often in legal, scientific, or evaluative settings. Example: "The preliminary determination of the committee indicated that further investigation was necessary before a final decision could be made."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

The goal of a phase II trial is to make a preliminary determination regarding the activity and tolerability of a new treatment and thus to determine whether the treatment warrants further study in the phase III setting.

Controlled Clinical Trials

It should reach a preliminary determination in 45 days.

The New York Times

Police are investigating, but the preliminary determination is accidental shooting.

The New York Times

The record number in 2012 is a preliminary determination because of margins of error in the surveys.

The Guardian

Investigators still do not have enough information, he said, to make a preliminary determination as to whether the shooting appeared justified.

The New York Times

The record said that the association's enforcement division had made a preliminary determination that violations of securities regulations occurred in Mr. Grubman's research on Winstar.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

Mr. Borin said the commission had made preliminary determinations that the assessments in those cases were fair and did not need to be reduced.

The New York Times

In addition, the exact parameters are compared to the location of the Preliminary Determinations of Epicenters (PDE) and GEOFON catalog (differences relative to exact location).

Earth, Planets and Space

Following these preliminary determinations, a systematic review of the paper is performed, and if the study is still deemed to contain curatable information, the data are extracted, entered into the database and the curated record then becomes available to the public.

Plosone

Preliminary determinations established that enzyme activity was linear with time and tissue concentration under these conditions.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Then we discuss a preliminary temperature determination for the jet plasma by using the filter ratio method at 171 and 195 Å and applying a technique for subtracting the EUV background radiation.

Advances in Space Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "preliminary determination", ensure the context clearly indicates that the determination is subject to change or further review. This avoids conveying a sense of finality when it's not intended.

Common error

Avoid presenting a "preliminary determination" as a definitive conclusion. Always qualify it with language that indicates its provisional nature, such as "subject to further review" or "based on initial findings".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "preliminary determination" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It denotes an initial or early decision, assessment, or finding, often implying that further review or confirmation is required. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "preliminary determination" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase signifying an initial assessment or conclusion that is subject to change. Ludwig AI confirms this. It's frequently employed in formal contexts such as science, news, and business. When using this phrase, ensure you indicate its provisional nature to avoid implying finality. Alternative phrases like "initial assessment" or "tentative conclusion" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Be mindful to avoid treating it as a definitive statement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

initial assessment

Focuses on the evaluative aspect, emphasizing the beginning stage of judging something.

preliminary assessment

Replaces "determination" with "assessment", maintaining a similar meaning but slightly altering the emphasis.

preliminary conclusion

Directly replaces determination with conclusion, keeping the meaning of initial finding.

preliminary diagnosis

A medical term used to describe a diagnosis made before all the information is known.

early conclusion

Highlights the temporal aspect, suggesting a conclusion reached at an early stage.

initial finding

Focuses on the discovery aspect, highlighting the first results obtained.

tentative conclusion

Emphasizes the provisional nature of the conclusion, indicating it may be subject to change.

first estimation

Highlights the act of estimating something in a first approach.

early diagnosis

Refers specifically to the field of medicine and highlights the moment when a medical condition is identified.

initial diagnosis

Refers specifically to the field of medicine.

FAQs

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

You can use "preliminary determination" to describe an early decision or conclusion that is subject to change. For example, "The committee's preliminary determination was that more information was needed before a final decision could be made."

What is a good alternative to "preliminary determination"?

Depending on the context, you might use alternatives like "initial assessment", "tentative conclusion", or "early conclusion".

Is "preliminary determination" formal or informal?

"Preliminary determination" is generally considered a formal phrase, suitable for professional, academic, and official contexts. In informal settings, simpler terms like "initial guess" or "early thought" might be more appropriate.

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

A "preliminary determination" is an initial assessment made before all the facts are known, and it is subject to change. A "final determination", on the other hand, is a conclusive decision made after all relevant information has been considered.