provisional date

USAGE SUMMARY

"provisional date" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a tentative date or timeline that has been agreed upon but is subject to change. For example: The company agreed on a provisional date of August 1st for the project completion.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

That gives us a provisional date of 14 July.

The Guardian

Deutsche Post has set a provisional date of Nov. 6 for its initial public offering.

The New York Times

The provisional date, which still needs to be approved by legislators, is June 7th.

The Economist

The British grand prix at Silverstone has been included on the 2002 formula one world calendar as a provisional date for the second year running.

The Guardian - Sport

Judge Haworth gave a provisional date of 5 May for the beginning of the crown court trial which will take place in Cambridge.

The Guardian

A provisional date of March 10 has been set for his trial, which is scheduled to last up to four weeks.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

19 June (and 5 September, provisional dates), giostradelsaracino.arezzo.it.

The Guardian - Travel

Provisional dates for a high court hearing on 28-29 November have already been pencilled in.

The Guardian

These events can be correlated with global climate change sequences to produce a provisional dating framework.

Journal of Archaeological Science

A provisional trial date was fixed for November 25.

Independent

By Feb. 28, 1941, the same agent provided a provisional launching date of May 20.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "provisional date", clarify the conditions under which the date might change to avoid misunderstandings. For example, "The provisional date for the meeting is October 20th, subject to confirmation of the venue."

Common error

Avoid treating a "provisional date" as a fixed commitment. Always communicate the tentative nature of the date to stakeholders to manage expectations effectively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "provisional date" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as an object or complement within a sentence. It specifies a particular time that is intended or scheduled but is not yet confirmed or finalized, as seen in Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

24%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "provisional date" is a commonly used noun phrase that refers to a tentative or planned date that is subject to change. As indicated by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and suitable for use in various contexts. The phrase is most frequently found in news and media, science, and wiki sources. When using "provisional date", it's important to clarify the conditions under which the date might change to avoid misunderstandings. Alternatives such as ""tentative date"" or ""preliminary date"" can be used depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tentative date

Replaces "provisional" with a more common synonym, "tentative", emphasizing the uncertainty of the date.

preliminary date

Uses "preliminary" to suggest the date is subject to confirmation.

estimated date

Indicates the date is a rough calculation or forecast.

projected date

Suggests a date that is predicted based on current information.

scheduled date

Implies the date is planned but not firmly confirmed.

proposed date

Highlights that the date is put forward for consideration.

target date

Indicates a date set as a goal or objective.

planned date

Suggests the date is part of a schedule.

anticipated date

Implies the date is expected but not guaranteed.

initial date

Suggests the first date suggested, which may be changed.

FAQs

How to use "provisional date" in a sentence?

You can use "provisional date" to indicate a tentative or planned date that is subject to change. For example, "The "provisional date" for the launch is in late October."

What can I say instead of "provisional date"?

You can use alternatives like "tentative date", "preliminary date", or "estimated date" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "provisional date"? Isn't every date, to some extent, provisional?

While all future dates carry some inherent uncertainty, "provisional date" is used to emphasize that the date is more subject to change than usual. It's not strictly redundant, as it highlights a higher degree of contingency. You can often drop "provisional" if the uncertainty is already clear from context.

What's the difference between "provisional date" and "deadline"?

A ""provisional date"" is a tentative plan, while a "deadline" is a firm date by which something must be completed. A deadline carries a stronger sense of urgency and commitment.