preliminary thoughts

USAGE SUMMARY

"preliminary thoughts" is an acceptable phrase in written English.
It is used to refer to early ideas or solutions that are not yet fully developed. For example, "At this stage, I will present my preliminary thoughts on how to address the issue."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

And I offer a few preliminary thoughts about potential solutions.

Harvard Business Review

These are a few preliminary thoughts, not in order.

The Economist

But Collins has already made his preliminary thoughts clear.

The New York Times

With that said, I have some preliminary thoughts on the question.

The Washington Post

These are preliminary thoughts, but there are reasons to explore this idea further.

Columbia University

For some preliminary thoughts on Barr's letter, I exchanged e-mails with Jack Goldsmith, a professor at Harvard Law School.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

I'm only just beginning to go through them, but I have a preliminary thought.

The New Yorker

Before taking up a novel like Scarlett Thomas's "Our Tragic Universe," with its playful and portentous fixations on riddles, paradoxes and Zen koans, it may be helpful to engage in a few preliminary thought experiments.

The New York Times - Books

As a preliminary thought experiment to gauge the potential relevance of these efforts to the struggle against terrorism in Arab lands, it occurred to us to accost a leading practitioner in the science of countering gangs.

Huffington Post

In his autobiography, Zinsser speaks of Nicolle's qualities as a scientist: Nicolle was one of those men who achieve their success by long preliminary thought, before an experiment is formulated, rather than by the frantic and often ill-conceived experimental activities that keep lesser men in ant-like agitation... Nicolle did relatively few and simple experiments.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Desk approach is core to the first phase and focuses on providing a preliminary well-thought list of city-specific candidate policies representing the starting point for further stakeholders' evaluation (Fig. 2).

European Transport Research Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "preliminary thoughts" to introduce ideas that are still under development and subject to change. This sets appropriate expectations and encourages feedback.

Common error

Avoid presenting "preliminary thoughts" as definitive conclusions. Clearly indicate that they are initial ideas and not yet fully formed to prevent misunderstandings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "preliminary thoughts" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "preliminary" modifies the noun "thoughts". According to Ludwig, this phrase is acceptable and commonly used in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Academia

32%

News & Media

40%

Science

28%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "preliminary thoughts" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase used to introduce initial ideas that are still under development. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is an acceptable phrase suitable for various contexts, including academic, news, and scientific writing. When using this phrase, it is best to indicate clearly that the thoughts are not yet finalized to avoid any potential misunderstandings. Consider alternatives such as "initial ideas" or "early considerations" to add variety to your writing. The phrase is used to set the stage and invite feedback.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

initial ideas

Focuses on the starting point of idea generation.

early considerations

Emphasizes the early stage of evaluating different aspects.

tentative ideas

Highlights the uncertainty and potential for change in the ideas.

first impressions

Refers to initial feelings or understandings about something.

preliminary findings

Focuses on early results or discoveries from a study or investigation.

preliminary conclusions

Emphasizes early judgements based on the first available information.

initial assessments

Relates to the first stage of evaluating or judging something.

early analyses

Highlights the initial stage of analytical evaluation.

initial hypothesis

Refers to the starting point assumption for future investigation.

working hypothesis

Highlights the flexible and practical nature of initial assumption.

FAQs

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

You can use "preliminary thoughts" to introduce initial ideas or assessments, such as, "These are just my "preliminary thoughts" on the matter, and I welcome further discussion."

What is a good alternative to "preliminary thoughts"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "initial ideas", "early considerations", or "tentative ideas".

When is it appropriate to share "preliminary thoughts"?

It's appropriate to share "preliminary thoughts" when you want to get feedback early in the process or when you need to communicate your initial understanding of a topic, making it clear that your views may evolve.

Are "preliminary thoughts" the same as final conclusions?

No, "preliminary thoughts" are not the same as final conclusions. "Preliminary thoughts" represent initial ideas that are subject to change, whereas final conclusions are based on thorough analysis and evidence.