surrogate date

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "surrogate date" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where a date is used as a substitute for another date, often in legal or technical discussions. Example: "In the absence of the original document, we will use the surrogate date for the contract's effective date."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

ICUSTAY_ID and SUBJECT_ID identify the ICU stay and the patient; DOB and DOD are surrogate dates of birth and death; see text for discussion.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

The use of such surrogates dates virtually from the Islamic Revolution in 1979; American officials believe Iran was behind the bombings of the United States Embassy and Marine barracks in Lebanon in 1983 and the strike against Air Force personnel at Khobar, Saudi Arabia, in 1996.

The New York Times

Infected Cq. perturbans were found only at Tangipahoa site A. Detection of WNV-infected mosquitoes was not influenced by elapsed time between dates of onset of illness (a surrogate for date of infection) and mosquito collection dates.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Date of publication was chosen as a surrogate for date of diagnosis of relapse as it was the only consistent date available for all the published studies (see Table 2).

British Journal of Cancer

Products with different sell-by dates (a surrogate for production date) were sampled for each meat type.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Yet none of these factors was taken into consideration in the only meta-analysis applied to environmental surrogates to date [55].

Plosone

Currently the only available surrogate for the date of BO onset is the date of BO diagnosis.

British Journal of Cancer

Date of self-report was used as a surrogate for the date of diagnosis.

Diabetes Care

To date, surrogate markers for estimating Aβ42 generation in the brain have not been identified.

EMBO Molecular Medicine

For adjuvant trials, the use of disease-free survival (DFS) is an accepted surrogate because, to date, mature follow up of both individual trials and their meta-analyses have consistently confirmed that improvements in DFS subsequently translate into firm improvements in OS.

Breast Cancer Research

To date, a surrogate fuel of this nature has not been used for microalgae hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) biocrude.

Energy Conversion and Management

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "surrogate date", clearly define the context in which the date is being used as a substitute to avoid confusion. For example, specify what the original date represents and why a surrogate is necessary.

Common error

Do not assume that the reader understands the meaning of "surrogate date" without explanation. Always provide context, especially in non-technical writing, to ensure clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "surrogate date" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It serves to identify a specific type of date—one that acts as a substitute or proxy for another date. The examples from Ludwig show it often appears in scientific contexts where precise dates may be unavailable or unreliable.

Expression frequency: Missing

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "surrogate date" signifies a substitute or proxy date employed when the actual date is unknown or unavailable. As Ludwig highlights, it is grammatically sound and finds common application in scientific and technical domains. Given its use in specialized contexts, ensure clarity by defining its meaning when communicating with a broad audience. Alternative phrasing includes "proxy date", "replacement date", and "substitute date". The choice among these depends on the specific meaning you wish to convey. While grammatically correct, it is best used with explicit explanation to prevent misunderstandings, particularly in non-technical writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

proxy date

Replaces "surrogate" with "proxy", maintaining the meaning of a substitute date.

replacement date

Uses "replacement" to indicate a date that takes the place of another.

substitute date

Employs "substitute" to convey the idea of a date used in place of the original.

alternative date

Indicates an alternate date being used.

approximate date

Suggests a date that is close to the actual date but not exact.

estimated date

Implies a date that is calculated or guessed based on available information.

inferred date

Indicates a date that is deduced from other known facts.

designated date

Refers to a date that has been specifically chosen or assigned as a replacement.

assigned date

Similar to designated date, implying a date that has been officially appointed.

provisional date

Suggests a date that is temporary or subject to change.

FAQs

What does "surrogate date" mean?

A "surrogate date" is a substitute date used when the actual or original date is unknown or unavailable. It serves as a proxy for the true date in calculations, records, or analyses.

When might I need to use a "surrogate date"?

You might use a "surrogate date" in situations where historical records are incomplete, when dealing with anonymized data where actual dates are masked, or in statistical modeling when imputing missing values. For example, you might use "approximate date" when the precise date is unknown.

What are some alternatives to saying "surrogate date"?

Alternatives include "proxy date", "replacement date", or "substitute date". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

How accurate is a "surrogate date" likely to be?

The accuracy of a "surrogate date" depends on the method used to determine it and the quality of available data. Clearly communicate the limitations and potential errors associated with using a surrogate in any analysis or report.