preparatory notes

USAGE SUMMARY

"preparatory notes" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to refer to notes taken in preparation for a task or project. For example, "I spent the morning taking preparatory notes for a presentation I need to give next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

As his preparatory notes got longer and longer, he realised that he had written a novel without intending to.

The Guardian - Books

Starting out as his translator, he quickly earned Robson's respect for the intense detail of his preparatory notes.

The Guardian

Oddly, Brown barely mentions the sexually explicit preparatory notes for Madame Bovary: Flaubert hated obscene books only because they were "untruthful".

The Guardian - Books

He never came near to completing this work, however, and the few preparatory notes that have survived give little or no idea of what the end result might have been.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It is not known whether he visited Temeraire, though he did go aboard Victory, making preparatory notes and sketches and interviewing sailors who had been in the battle.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

His national pride was intense; in a Preparatory Note to The Voyage of the Scotia he wrote: "While 'Science' was the talisman of the Expedition, 'Scotland' was emblazoned on its flag".

Wikipedia

"The officer corps of the elite Golani Brigade is now heavily populated by religious right-wing graduates of the preparatory academies," noted Moshe Halbertal, a Jewish philosophy professor who co-wrote the military code of ethics and who is himself religiously observant but politically liberal.

The New York Times

Surviving preparatory drawings show line notes, ideas, and movement and physiognomy studies.

Wikipedia

The exhibition is mounted to simulate an artist's studio, filled with sketches, storyboards, notes and preparatory drawings, all leading up to the final product and publication.

The New York Times

However, it should be noted that preparatory qualitative work and piloting receive far less attention in the DCE literature compared to experimental design and analysis, despite their importance in ensuring that choices are salient to the target population and therefore equal contribution to the robustness of results [ 29, 64].

BMC Health Services Research

A spokesman for the European commission sounded a cautiously optimistic note about the preparatory negotiations on Monday.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "preparatory notes", ensure the context clearly indicates what the notes are preparing for. Being specific enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "preparatory notes" to refer to final, polished documents. This phrase implies an intermediate, planning stage.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "preparatory notes" functions as a noun phrase, where "preparatory" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "notes". Ludwig AI confirms that it refers to notes taken in preparation for a task or project.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "preparatory notes" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe notes taken in advance to prepare for a task, project, or event. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is suitable for describing notes intended for preliminary planning. While its frequency is uncommon, its usage spans various contexts including news, encyclopedias, and business, and its register is typically neutral to professional. To ensure clarity, specify what the notes are preparing for, and avoid using the phrase for final documents.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preliminary notes

Replaces "preparatory" with "preliminary", emphasizing the initial stage of note-taking.

planning notes

Substitutes "preparatory" with "planning", highlighting the aspect of planning involved in the notes.

background notes

Focuses on the role of the notes as providing background information.

initial jottings

Replaces "notes" with "jottings" and "preparatory" with "initial", suggesting quick, early notes.

first draft notes

Emphasizes that the notes are part of an early draft.

scoping notes

Highlights the notes' role in defining the scope of a project or task.

pre-planning documentation

Expands "notes" to "documentation" and rephrases "preparatory" as "pre-planning", indicating formal preparatory records.

briefing notes

Suggests notes prepared for a briefing, typically summarizing key information.

outline notes

Implies the notes form an outline or structured overview.

work-up notes

Suggests notes created to work up to a final output.

FAQs

How can I use "preparatory notes" in a sentence?

You can use "preparatory notes" to describe the notes taken before starting a major task. For example, "The artist reviewed his preparatory notes before beginning the mural."

What are some alternatives to "preparatory notes"?

Some alternatives include "preliminary notes", "planning notes", or "background notes", depending on the context.

What is the difference between "preparatory notes" and "research notes"?

"Preparatory notes" are specifically for planning and getting ready for a task, while "research notes" are records taken during research. Preparatory notes can include insights from research but focus on actionable steps.

Are "preparatory notes" the same as "meeting minutes"?

No, "preparatory notes" are created before an event, to help with planning. In contrast, meeting minutes are a record of what happened during a meeting.