preliminary warning

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "preliminary warning" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate an initial alert or notice about a potential issue or situation that may require attention. Example: "The company issued a preliminary warning about the upcoming changes in policy that may affect all employees."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Slightly less than one minute before the crash, the systems aboard both planes barked out a preliminary warning of "traffic, traffic".

The New York Times

At 5 20 p.m., one of the outriders gave him a preliminary warning, and he feigned nervousness, saying, "I can't get myself to go out".

The New York Times - Sports

Genuine, deep, long-term study of the Holocaust has the power to sensitize people, raise awareness of the other, help identify the preliminary warning signs of genocide, and put the brakes in place.

The New York Times

After seeing them, we think you'll agree with our conclusion that it's not too early to issue a preliminary warning.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The UN Environment Programme's (UNEP) final report on the environmental impact of DU after the Kosovo conflict in 1999 recommended a clean-up of the 112 exposed sites there, which still appears not to have been carried out despite preliminary warnings issued two months ago.

The Guardian

The lawyer explains that Axel Springer's Die Welt tried to obtain a preliminary injuction without warning in the at the district court of Stuttgart (Landgericht Stuttgart) through the law firm Lubberger Lehment.

TechCrunch

Soon after the Union victory at Antietam in September, Lincoln issued the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, a warning to the Confederacy that if it did not lay down its arms by Jan . 1 he would declare the slaves "forever free".

The New York Times

Next, St . Judereturned the donations, and Mr. Ridley received a letter from a law firm retained by the hospital, warning that a preliminary injunction would soon be filed against his company, Vidbidness.

The New York Times

Lincoln even referred to colonisation in the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, his September 1862 warning to the South that he would free all slaves in southern territory if the rebellion continued.

Independent

WOT works worldwide and no other country sends as many warning letters and preliminary injunctions.

Huffington Post

This is a secure Internet-based early warning system that gathers preliminary reports of public health significance by monitoring global media sources near "real time," 24 hours a day, 7 days a week basis.

BioMed Research International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "preliminary warning", ensure the context clearly indicates that further investigation or action may be needed. It signals an early stage of awareness, not a definitive conclusion.

Common error

Avoid treating a "preliminary warning" as a confirmed threat or problem. It represents an initial assessment and requires further validation before definitive action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "preliminary warning" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "preliminary" modifies the noun "warning". This combination serves to qualify the nature of the warning as being in an initial or investigatory stage, not necessarily conclusive.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "preliminary warning" is a grammatically sound and relatively common phrase used to indicate an early alert or notification about a potential issue. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is correct and usable in written English. Analysis of usage patterns indicates it most frequently appears in News & Media contexts, followed by Science and Formal & Business settings. When using this phrase, it's important to convey that the warning is not definitive and requires further investigation. Related phrases include "early alert" and "advance notification". Overall, "preliminary warning" serves as an important signal for proactive awareness and potential action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

initial caution

Replaces 'warning' with 'caution', emphasizing a milder form of alerting.

early alert

Focuses on the timing of the warning, highlighting its promptness.

preliminary notification

Offers a slightly more formal substitute while maintaining the core meaning.

advance notification

Replaces both words, offering a more formal alternative.

initial advisory

Substitutes 'warning' with 'advisory', suggesting guidance rather than alarm.

advance notice

Highlights the 'notice' aspect of the warning, delivered in advance.

precursory notice

Uses more formal and technical synonyms for both words.

preliminary heads-up

Combines 'preliminary' with a colloquial expression for 'warning'.

early heads-up

Provides a more informal and colloquial alternative.

first sign

Focuses on the initial indicator rather than the warning itself.

FAQs

How to use "preliminary warning" in a sentence?

You can use "preliminary warning" to indicate an initial alert about a potential problem. For example: "The system issued a preliminary warning before the critical failure occurred."

What can I say instead of "preliminary warning"?

You can use alternatives like "early alert", "advance notification", or "initial caution" depending on the context.

Is "preliminary warning" formal or informal?

"Preliminary warning" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. More informal options include "early heads-up".

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

"Preliminary warning" indicates an early notification that a problem may exist, while "final warning" implies that if the issue is not resolved, there will be serious consequences.