preparations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "preparations" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of making ready or getting things organized for a specific event or purpose. Example: "The preparations for the wedding are in full swing, with decorations being set up and the guest list finalized."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Politics

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The intervention by Mills came as David Cameron prepared to intensify his preparations for his renegotiation of Britain's EU membership terms.

The Guardian

Meanwhile, our players, coaches and staff will continue to focus on our preparations for Super Bowl XLIX and the many challenges we face as we prepare for the Seattle Seahawks.

The Guardian - Sport

El Salvador's preparations for their trip to Spain were, of course, hampered by the war that was devastating the country.

The Guardian - Sport

The only manager standing now between Alex Neil and the Premier League is Middlesbrough's Aitor Karanka, whose preparations for next week's Championship play-off final will probably involve consulting his friend José Mourinho, to whom he used to be assistant manager at Real Madrid.

The Guardian - Sport

He declared himself delighted with his preparations, and this performance was a vast improvement on his dismal defeat by Lleyton Hewitt at Queen's last week.

The Guardian - Sport

The incident represents an embarrassing episode for Coleman and the FAW, with the former Fulham manager, who is close to agreeing a contract extension, nowhere to be seen as his team went through their final pre-match preparations.

The Guardian - Sport

The preparations by the "golden triangle" – cabinet secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood, the Queen's private secretary, Sir Christopher Geidt, and the prime minister's principal private secretary, Chris Martin – show how discreet work is underway as Whitehall gears up for a second successive hung parliament, which could prove still more complicated than the last one.

The Guardian

The leaked document showed that during the preparations for a hung parliament the Lib Dems still intended to fulfil that commitment.

The Guardian

A source familiar with the Whitehall preparations told the Guardian that officials were worried that the Queen's presence could be misinterpreted, should the election on 7 May produce a hung parliament.

The Guardian

Facebook Twitter Google plus Share Share this post Facebook Twitter Google plus close 11.10am BST11 10 Q: Are you happy with the BBC's preparations for the World War One commemorations?

The Guardian

Markiyan Lubkivskiy, who directed Ukraine's preparations to host Euro 2012 and is now an adviser to the head of the Ukrainian security services, called for legal action in an online post and suggested the video could aid the cause of pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing events, clarify the type of "preparations" you're referring to (e.g., "logistical preparations", "strategic preparations") for enhanced clarity.

Common error

Avoid using overly generic verbs like "do" with "preparations". Instead of "do the preparations", use more specific verbs such as "make", "complete", or "oversee" to enhance the description.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "preparations" is as a plural noun. It refers to the activities undertaken to get ready for an event or activity. Ludwig shows that it is commonly used to describe the state of being prepared.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Sports

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "preparations" functions as a plural noun referring to the activities undertaken to get ready for an event. As Ludwig highlights, its grammatical status is correct, and it's frequently used in news, sports, and formal business contexts. When writing, remember to be specific about the type of "preparations" and to avoid overly generic verbs. Related phrases include "arrangements", "planning", and "readying", and this can help you add variety to your writing. As Ludwig AI shows, this word is considered suitable and correct for broad use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preparations being made

A more passive and descriptive way to describe the act of preparing

arrangements

Focuses more on the organizational aspect.

making arrangements

A more verbose version of "arrangements".

planning

Highlights the strategic aspect of devising a plan.

arranging

Emphasizes the act of putting things in order.

readying

Focuses on the action of making someone or something ready.

preparatory steps

Emphasizes the individual actions taken in preparation.

getting ready

A more informal way of expressing the act of preparing.

preliminary measures

Highlights actions taken in advance or as an introduction.

groundwork

Refers to the foundational work done beforehand.

FAQs

How to use "preparations" in a sentence?

"Preparations" refers to the activities involved in getting ready for something. For instance, "The team is focused on their "preparations for" the upcoming game."

What are some synonyms for "preparations"?

Alternatives include "arrangements", "planning", and "readying", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "do preparations"?

While understandable, it's more precise to use verbs like "make", "complete", or "oversee" in place of "do". For example, "make preparations" is often preferable.

What is the difference between "preparations" and "arrangements"?

"Preparations" generally refers to the overall process of getting ready, while "arrangements" often implies specific organizational steps or logistics. "Arrangements" are part of "preparations".