tentative offer

USAGE SUMMARY

"tentative offer" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe an offer that is not final or certain, often used in negotiations or business dealings. Example: The company made a tentative offer to acquire the smaller company, but negotiations are still ongoing.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

There's already been one tentative offer, with maybe more to come, so it's looking very positive".

The Guardian - Money

A year ago, Yahoo had made a tentative offer for the social networking site.

The Guardian - Business

"There had been a tentative offer of ¤395,000, which was withdrawn at the last moment".

The Guardian - Money

Mr. Mullins said a mediator who recently became involved in the negotiations was key to reaching the tentative offer.

The New York Times

James also said Pryor was not interested in playing in the Canadian Football League; the Saskatchewan Roughriders had extended a tentative offer.

The New York Times - Sports

Earlier this year, Aetna rejected a tentative offer of $70 a share for the entire company from ING and Wellpoint Health Networks of California.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

At the moment, BlackBerry is the subject of several possible or tentative offers.

The New York Times

With the Knicks' permission, the agent could solicit tentative offers before negotiating a buyout — or even attempt to broker a trade.

The New York Times - Sports

The company is also benefitting from news that Swiss rival Kuoni said it had received tentative offers to buy the business.

The Guardian - Business

Shares in Billabong jumped 9 percent to their highest in three weeks after resuming trade Thursday and ended the day at 1.37 dollars, up 7.5 percent but still below the price of the two tentative offers.

The New York Times

The tentative offers made by Hitler were rejected by the Churchill coalition government.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "tentative offer" to convey that the terms and conditions of the offer are subject to change and further negotiation. This sets appropriate expectations in business or personal dealings.

Common error

Avoid treating a "tentative offer" as a binding agreement. Always clarify the non-committal nature to prevent misunderstandings and legal complications.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tentative offer" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where the adjective 'tentative' modifies the noun 'offer'. This construction, as seen in Ludwig's examples, describes an offer that is not yet final or fully confirmed.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

8%

Academia

6%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "tentative offer" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe a preliminary or conditional proposal. As highlighted by Ludwig, it conveys that the offer is not yet final and may be subject to further negotiation. Predominantly found in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts, the phrase is characterized by a professional register. Related alternatives include "preliminary proposal" and "conditional offer". When using this phrase, it's crucial to avoid assuming finality and clearly communicate its non-binding nature.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preliminary proposal

Replaces "offer" with "proposal" emphasizing the early stage of the suggestion.

initial bid

Substitutes "offer" with "bid", suggesting a competitive context, particularly in auctions or acquisitions.

conditional offer

Highlights the presence of conditions that must be met for the offer to become valid.

provisional agreement

Indicates a temporary agreement that is subject to further confirmation.

unconfirmed proposition

Replaces both "tentative" and "offer" with synonyms that stress the lack of certainty.

exploratory suggestion

Emphasizes that the offer is more of an initial exploration than a firm commitment.

possible offer

Indicates that an offer may be made, but it is not guaranteed.

potential bid

Similar to 'initial bid' but highlights the possibility rather than the initiation.

in-principle offer

Suggests agreement on the main points but details remain to be finalized.

qualified proposal

Highlights that the proposal is made with specific qualifications or limitations.

FAQs

How to use "tentative offer" in a sentence?

You can use "tentative offer" to describe a proposal that is not yet final. For example: "The company received a "tentative offer" for its assets, but is still considering other options."

What can I say instead of "tentative offer"?

You can use alternatives like "preliminary proposal", "conditional offer", or "exploratory suggestion" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "tentative offer" or "final offer"?

"Tentative offer" and "final offer" describe offers at different stages. A ""tentative offer"" is preliminary and subject to change, while a "final offer" is the last proposition, intended to be accepted or rejected.

What's the difference between "tentative offer" and "firm offer"?

A ""tentative offer"" indicates uncertainty and potential for change, whereas a "firm offer" suggests a solid, non-negotiable proposition.