tentative number

USAGE SUMMARY

"tentative number" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a figure or amount that is subject to change or further verification. For example, "The tentative number of people expected at the meeting is twenty."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The tentative number of barley unigenes is 32,690, based on CAP3 assembly [ 20] of 3' end ESTs and FLcDNAs [ 21].

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Under tentative numbers discussed by congressional aides who were not authorized to speak publicly about the negotiations, defense spending would get an $80 billion boost above the existing $549 billion in spending for 2018.

The Washington Post

We're planning a CG/TC meet-up in Berlin to match the one we're having in Prague and I'd like to get some tentative numbers for attendance.

TechCrunch

How's this for some fun: We're planning a CG/TC meet-up in Berlin to match the one we're having in Prague and I'd like to get some tentative numbers for attendance.

TechCrunch

So Green appealed to the Executive Committee of the AQHA, which had the authority to award Tentative numbers to horses regardless of conformation exam results.

Wikipedia

In the first tentative Interstate numbering plans, the freeways in Michigan now numbered I-96 and I-196 were supposed to be part of the I-94 corridor, and the freeway between Muskegon and Grand Rapids was to be I-94N.

Wikipedia

They improved slightly in the last period, but they were still tentative despite a number of line changes.

The New York Times - Sports

Thus, a track is labeled again as tentative if a number of sample windows have gone by without any new association (n missed).

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

And while the projects are new and the numbers tentative, the Energy Department predicts that its loan guarantee programs could create more than 60,000 direct jobs in the solar and wind industries and in companies developing advanced batteries and other components for more fuel-efficient cars.

The New York Times

(4 Medicago truncatula Gene Index tentative consensus (TC) numbers for cDNAs on the microarray (http://www.tigr.org/tigr-scripts/tgi/T_index.cgi species=medicago).

BMC Plant Biology

Table displays the GenBank accession numbers, tentative annotation of each up- and down-regulated probe (p  < 0.05) between infected and non-infected fish.

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Remember to specify the unit being measured when stating a "tentative number", such as "tentative number of participants", "tentative number of sales", or "tentative number of infections".

Common error

Do not present a "tentative number" as a final or definitive value. Ensure your audience understands it is subject to revision to avoid misinterpretation and potential inaccuracies.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tentative number" primarily functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "tentative" modifies the noun "number". It specifies that the number being referred to is not yet final or certain, aligning with Ludwig AI's assessment.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "tentative number" is a phrase used to describe a numerical value that is not yet final or confirmed. As Ludwig AI states, it is grammatically correct and usable in written English. While examples are relatively rare, the phrase appears in various contexts, including science, news, and encyclopedia articles. It is important to clarify the basis for the "tentative number" and acknowledge its potential for change to avoid misinterpretations. Related phrases such as ""provisional figure"" or ""estimated count"" can be used as alternatives depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

provisional figure

Replaces "tentative" with "provisional", suggesting a figure that is likely to be updated later.

estimated count

Uses "estimated" instead of "tentative", focusing on the approximate nature of the number.

preliminary total

Replaces both words to suggest an initial, unconfirmed calculation.

approximate value

Focuses on the value being an approximation rather than a precise measurement.

rough estimate

Highlights the lack of precision in the numerical value.

projected amount

Suggests a future or anticipated quantity that might change.

unconfirmed statistic

Emphasizes that the number is not yet verified or officially accepted.

possible quantity

Highlights that the number represents a potential or theoretical amount.

expected value

Indicates the number is a prediction, subject to variation and error.

initial assessment

Replaces both words to emphasize an early evaluation subject to change.

FAQs

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

You can use "tentative number" to describe a figure that is not yet final, such as: "The "tentative number" of attendees is 50, but this may change."

What's a good alternative to "tentative number"?

Alternatives include "provisional figure", "estimated count", or "preliminary total", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "tentative number" or "approximate number"?

Both phrases are valid, but "approximate number" suggests a less precise value, while ""tentative number"" implies the value is subject to change or confirmation.

When should I use "tentative number" instead of "projected number"?

"Tentative number" is appropriate when the figure is uncertain and may change. "Projected number" is used when the figure is a forecast based on current data.