tentative call

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tentative call" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a preliminary or provisional decision or communication that may change later. Example: "We made a tentative call on the meeting date, but we will confirm it once we have everyone's availability."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The old ones are full of longing & half-spoken promises, starting with a tentative call & swelling to huge melancholy proportions.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"But our chairman [Dato Chan Tien Ghee] really showed ambition yesterday [Wednesday] and we'd made tentative calls, but by that point it was so far down the road with Liverpool".

BBC

Remember how you think about yourself when you're looking in the mirror brushing your teeth in the morning, or you're going to make terrible, tentative calls that day.

Huffington Post

Oxides PoO PoO2 PoO3 Hydrides PoH2 Halides PoX2, e.g. polonium dichloride, PoCl2 PoX4, e.g. polonium tetrachloride, PoCl4 PoF6 (tentative) Also tentatively called "radium F", polonium was discovered by Marie and Pierre Curie in 1898, and was named after Marie Curie's native land of Poland.

Wikipedia

Tentative plans call for additional stopgap measures, called continuing resolutions, after that.

The New York Times

Tentative plans call for launching a 20,000-pound, two-piece robot craft on an expendable rocket.

The New York Times - Science

The team owners' tentative plans call for a 25,000-seat stadium, with up to 24 luxury boxes.

The New York Times

Tentative plans call for the addition of three hotels, a spa and an office building, as well as entertainment attractions, perhaps including a performing arts center.

The New York Times

Even the retail space in the ground floor of Citylights is vacant, though tentative plans call for a dry cleaner and, perhaps, a deli.

The New York Times

Tentative plans call for it to be outfitted with equipment that sorts out the carbon dioxide and burns the hydrogen, although there is no firm commitment yet to do that.

The New York Times

Tentative plans call for digging up nearly 1,000 feet of the creek bed and replacing it with a 12-foot-wide concrete box, similar to what was done to the creek north of Martin Avenue in the 1970's.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context. "Tentative call" can work well when discussing plans, agreements, or initial contact where outcomes are not yet confirmed.

Common error

Avoid using "tentative call" repeatedly in formal reports or business proposals. Opt for more decisive language like "initial contact" or "preliminary discussion" to project confidence and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tentative call" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where 'tentative' modifies 'call'. According to Ludwig AI, this construction is grammatically correct and usable. The example provided by Ludwig shows it describing an initial or uncertain step in communication.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "tentative call" is a grammatically correct and usable English expression, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, to describe an initial or uncertain communication. It implies that the details of a plan or agreement are not yet final. While relatively rare, the examples show its use in news and media contexts to convey a sense of preliminary action. For more formal contexts, alternative expressions like "initial inquiry" or "preliminary contact" may be more appropriate. Be mindful of overusing it in situations where decisiveness is needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preliminary contact

Replaces 'tentative' with 'preliminary', emphasizing the initial stage of the contact.

initial inquiry

Focuses on the act of asking or investigating, suitable when the call is to gather information.

exploratory communication

Highlights the investigative nature of the call, implying a search for possibilities.

hesitant phone call

Emphasizes the uncertainty or reluctance behind making the call.

uncertain contact

Highlights the lack of conviction in the contact.

provisional communication

Indicates that the call's purpose or outcome is subject to change.

unconfirmed outreach

Suggests the outreach attempt isn't finalized or certain.

speculative approach

Suggests that the approach has a high degree of risk.

guarded contact

Highlights the careful and cautious nature of the interaction.

experimental dialogue

Suggests a dialogue done to test a new idea.

FAQs

What does "tentative call" mean?

A "tentative call" refers to a preliminary or uncertain communication, suggesting that the details or outcome are not yet confirmed or finalized.

How can I use "tentative call" in a sentence?

You might say, "We made a "tentative call" to schedule the meeting, but need to confirm the date with everyone."

What are some alternatives to "tentative call"?

Alternatives include "preliminary contact", "initial inquiry", or "exploratory communication" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "tentative call"?

It's appropriate when the communication is uncertain or the plans are not yet firm. For example, if you're describing the early stages of planning a meeting or event.