provisional conclusion

USAGE SUMMARY

"provisional conclusion" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used when discussing a conclusion that is not final or definitive, but rather temporary or subject to change. For example: "After analyzing the data, the researchers came to a provisional conclusion that the new treatment may be effective, but further testing is needed to confirm their findings." "In his argument, the lawyer presented a strong provisional conclusion that the accused was innocent, but the jury's final verdict would determine the outcome." "In her essay, the student made a provisional conclusion that economic policies played a significant role in the country's recent recession, but acknowledged that other factors may have contributed as well."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Now, with Planet of the Apes (Carlton) I think we can come to at least a provisional conclusion.

The Guardian - Film

"I think," he continues, arriving at a provisional conclusion, "I will write, in my 70s, more novellas.

The Guardian - Books

Davies said: "Our provisional conclusion is that we will need some net additional runway capacity in the south-east of England in the coming decades.

The Guardian

A BBC spokesperson said: "We welcome the trust's provisional conclusion, which is the next step in delivering our vision for a new BBC3.

The Guardian

Provisional conclusion: since France, unlike Britain, is a presidential democracy, she could probably do it herself initially, but it would then require parliament to vote a revision of the French constitution.

The Guardian - Opinion

After the Advertising Standards Authority came to the provisional conclusion that the honorific was likely to mislead the public, McKeith Research said it planned to drop it from its advertising, obviating the need for a full investigation.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Chivers, perhaps precisely because her investigations are incisive and her thinking so relentless, sometimes seemed on the verge of contradicting her own provisional conclusions.

The New York Times - Magazine

Economics is a hard subject, people will come to different provisional conclusions, and some of them will, in retrospect, turn out to have given very bad advice.

The New York Times

It's one of the proposals that's been put to the Competition and Markets Authority ahead of the provisional conclusions of its review of the current account market expected to be published later this month.

Independent

"BBC management believes the proposition will help the BBC meet its public purposes and close the gap between the importance that audiences attach to the BBC's local role and their view of current performance". The consultation will run for an initial period of four weeks with a further period for submissions after the BBC Trust publishes its provisional conclusions in November.

The Guardian

Provisional conclusions follow.

Journal of Cheminformatics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "provisional conclusion", clearly state the conditions or further evidence needed for it to become a definitive conclusion. This adds transparency and avoids misleading the audience.

Common error

Avoid presenting a "provisional conclusion" as a guaranteed fact. Use qualifiers like "suggests", "indicates", or "appears to show" to maintain appropriate nuance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "provisional conclusion" functions as a noun phrase that typically serves as the object or complement within a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. It describes a conclusion reached tentatively, open to revision as more information becomes available.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Books

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "provisional conclusion" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase as Ludwig AI confirms. This noun phrase is employed to express a temporary or preliminary judgment, open to revision based on further evidence. It is considered suitable for formal, academic, and news-related contexts. Though not as frequent as other expressions, its proper use adds a layer of transparency and intellectual honesty to the discussion. When using this phrase, remember to specify the conditions or evidence required for it to become definitive and avoid presenting it as an absolute fact. Alternatives include "tentative inference" or "preliminary assessment".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tentative inference

Emphasizes the uncertainty and potential revisability of the conclusion.

preliminary assessment

Focuses on the evaluation aspect, highlighting that it's an initial judgment.

initial determination

Stresses the start of a decision-making process rather than a final resolution.

working hypothesis

Highlights the role of the conclusion as a basis for further investigation.

conditional finding

Stresses that the conclusion is dependent on certain conditions being met.

qualified judgment

Indicates that the conclusion is not absolute and may be subject to limitations.

interim resolution

Suggests a temporary solution rather than a final verdict.

speculative inference

Emphasizes the possibility that the conclusion is based on incomplete evidence.

pilot assessment

Implies a small-scale initial evaluation.

estimated result

Focuses on prediction rather than definite certainty.

FAQs

What does "provisional conclusion" mean?

A "provisional conclusion" is a temporary or preliminary finding that is subject to change based on new evidence or further analysis.

How to use "provisional conclusion" in a sentence?

You can use "provisional conclusion" to describe an initial assessment or judgment, for example: "The committee reached a "provisional conclusion", pending further investigation."

What can I say instead of "provisional conclusion"?

Alternatives include "tentative inference", "preliminary assessment", or "initial determination" depending on the context.

Is "provisional conclusion" the same as "final conclusion"?

No, a "provisional conclusion" is not final. It's an initial assessment, while a final conclusion is the ultimate judgment after all evidence is considered.