tentative ideas

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tentative ideas" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe thoughts, plans, or concepts that are not yet fully formed or definite. Example: The team presented their tentative ideas for the new marketing campaign at the meeting.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

But his experience here in Austin can help form some tentative ideas about how he might operate as president.

The New York Times

The RAND report was commissioned by the Department of Energy, and it offers some tentative ideas about how government policy could promote these kinds of shifts.

The New York Times

As officials here wrestled with some tentative ideas, the French foreign minister, Hubert Védrine, delivered a scathing attack on the administration.

The New York Times

Despite the added difficulties the fighting posed to that mission, Mr. Brahimi said, he had formed a "few still tentative ideas" about how to move Iraq forward toward the first elected government in its history by January.

The New York Times

Section 5 provides main conclusions and future tentative ideas.

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

The participant's passage suggests he views theories as tentative ideas and not as evidence-based explanations.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Even such a tentative idea was freeing.

The New York Times

I have a tentative idea of a possible itinerary, and am making inquiries with UN officials and aid workers.

The New York Times

Speaking to an audience of fans in Toronto about his new novel Under the Dome, King divulged that he'd begun working on a tentative idea for a follow-up to The Shining – first published in 1977 last summerer.

The Guardian - Books

His wild spelling ("Hodd" shifts into "Hodde" and "Hode"; "Robin" becomes - of course - "Robbynge") gives every name a flickering quality, as if, in those days, individual identity was still only a tentative idea.

The Guardian - Books

The BBC's head of learning, Sinead Rocks, said that the project started in 2012 as a "very tentative idea that very quickly gave us a feeling of 'what if?'".

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When presenting "tentative ideas", clearly communicate their preliminary nature to avoid misunderstandings. Use phrases like "initial thoughts" or "early concepts" to reinforce the undeveloped aspect.

Common error

Avoid presenting "tentative ideas" as definitive plans. Doing so can lead to miscommunication and unmet expectations. Use qualifiers to indicate their provisional status.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tentative ideas" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where 'tentative' modifies the noun 'ideas'. It describes ideas that are not yet fully formed or certain, indicating a preliminary or provisional status. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "tentative ideas" refers to concepts that are not yet fully developed and remain subject to change. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. When using this phrase, it's crucial to clearly communicate the preliminary nature of the ideas to avoid misunderstandings. Related phrases such as "preliminary concepts" or "initial thoughts" can be used to reinforce this aspect. Avoid overstating "tentative ideas" as definitive plans, and always present them as open to feedback and further refinement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preliminary concepts

Replaces 'ideas' with 'concepts' and 'tentative' with 'preliminary', suggesting an initial stage of conceptualization.

provisional thoughts

Substitutes 'ideas' with 'thoughts' and 'tentative' with 'provisional', emphasizing the temporary nature of the thoughts.

undeveloped notions

Replaces 'tentative' with 'undeveloped', indicating a lack of full development and replaces 'ideas' with 'notions'.

early concepts

Uses 'early' to convey the initial stage and 'concepts' instead of 'ideas'.

initial thoughts

Indicates the beginning phase of thinking, similar to 'tentative'.

experimental concepts

Focuses on the exploratory nature of the concepts, replacing 'tentative'.

hypothetical notions

Replaces 'ideas' with 'notions' and 'tentative' with 'hypothetical', suggesting a speculative aspect.

speculative thoughts

Uses 'speculative' to indicate uncertainty and 'thoughts' instead of 'ideas'.

rough drafts of ideas

Emphasizes the unrefined state of the ideas as drafts.

inchoate concepts

Replaces 'tentative' with 'inchoate', signifying that the concepts are just beginning to form.

FAQs

How can I express that an idea is not fully developed yet?

You can use phrases like "preliminary ideas", "early concepts", or "initial thoughts" to indicate that your ideas are still in the early stages of development.

What's a more formal way to say "tentative ideas"?

In more formal settings, consider using "provisional thoughts" or "hypothetical notions" to maintain a professional tone.

Is it okay to present "tentative ideas" in a business meeting?

Yes, but be sure to frame them as such. Acknowledge that they are "undeveloped notions" and open to feedback, rather than presenting them as finalized strategies.

What is the difference between "tentative ideas" and "definite plans"?

"Tentative ideas" are preliminary and subject to change, whereas "definite plans" are finalized and ready for implementation. "Tentative ideas" are more like "speculative thoughts", while definite plans are concrete strategies.