preliminary reply

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "preliminary reply" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when providing an initial response or feedback before a more detailed or final answer is given. Example: "Thank you for your inquiry. Here is my preliminary reply regarding your request."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Asked if she saw the game as either a crack in the United States facade or a show of perseverance after her team moved to 3-0 in preliminary play, Coach Nell Fortner replied: "We were resilient.

The New York Times - Sports

He was given until this Friday to reply to preliminary findings in the investigation, which is believed to turn mainly on an encounter Mr. Foley is said to have had with an employee last October, a month after he was recruited to be chief executive.

The New York Times

An information pack including a preliminary consent form and reply envelope was then sent out.

British Medical Journal

"I will be very happy to serve a country for which I have so much affection," Garibaldi replied to preliminary inquiries.

The New York Times

Visa will have about one month to reply to the preliminary findings once they are released, the commission said.

The New York Times

It is likely that the preliminary work also ensured quick replies from panel respondents and a shorter time to reach consensus.

BMC Health Services Research

Each reply was placed into preliminary categories, which were grouped into themes.

BMC Health Services Research

Mr. O'Keefe, repeating assurances that the agency gave on Monday, when it issued its preliminary plan to resume shuttle missions, replied that the March goal was very flexible.

The New York Times

His dismissive reply to the banker's preliminary estimate hinted of the army of drones seeking business: "I can't take this to the rest of partners, but I can take it to other underwriters".

The New York Times

They had experience of e-health systems across 4 domains of e-health: management, communication, computerized decision support, and information systems [ 20] but in this preliminary study we did not analyse the replies against these categories.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Preliminary observations suggested that Chlorobalius leucoviridis katydids did not reply to cicada song in darkness, despite the fact that the katydids are active and sing at night.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "preliminary reply" when you want to convey that your answer is not yet final and might be subject to further adjustments or clarifications. It sets expectations for a more comprehensive response later.

Common error

Don't use "preliminary reply" if you have a complete and definitive answer. "Preliminary" indicates that more information or analysis is forthcoming, not that the current reply is lacking.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "preliminary reply" functions as an adjective-noun compound, where "preliminary" modifies "reply". It suggests an initial response that might be incomplete or subject to change. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "preliminary reply" serves as a useful tool in communication to signify that an answer is initial and potentially incomplete. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While the phrase is adaptable across different registers, it finds frequent use in settings where managing expectations is important. Alternative expressions like "initial response" or "tentative answer" offer similar meanings, each with subtle differences in emphasis. Remember to reserve the use of "preliminary reply" for situations when a final, more detailed answer is expected later.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

initial response

Focuses on the timing and sequence of the response, emphasizing it's the first one.

tentative answer

Highlights the uncertainty or provisional nature of the answer.

provisional response

Similar to tentative, suggesting the response is subject to change.

early feedback

Emphasizes the aspect of providing feedback at an early stage.

quick acknowledgment

Stresses the speed and act of recognizing something.

preliminary feedback

Uses the word "feedback" instead of "reply" changing a bit the meaning.

initial reaction

Emphasizes the emotional or instinctive nature of the response.

first word

Informal term for an initial response or statement.

top-line response

Highlights the high-level, summary nature of the response.

informal response

Changes the adjective with "informal" instead of "preliminary".

FAQs

How to use "preliminary reply" in a sentence?

You can use "preliminary reply" when you want to give an initial answer or feedback before providing a more detailed or final answer. Example: "Thank you for your inquiry. Here is my preliminary reply regarding your request."

What can I say instead of "preliminary reply"?

You can use alternatives like "initial response", "tentative answer", or "provisional response" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "preliminary reply" or "initial reply"?

Both "preliminary reply" and "initial reply" are correct. "Preliminary reply" emphasizes that the reply is not yet final, while "initial reply" simply indicates that it is the first response.

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

"Preliminary reply" suggests that the information provided is subject to change or further development, while "final reply" indicates that the information is complete and definitive.