tentative results

USAGE SUMMARY

"tentative results" is a correct and usable expression in written English.
You can use it when you are talking about the preliminary results of a study, experiment, or investigation. For example, "We have obtained some tentative results from our study, which seem to indicate a significant impact on the environment."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Tentative results suggest it is also improving high school graduation rates.

The New York Times

Tentative results so far suggest that grafting an extra sugar or acid molecule to the anthocyanins improved their effectiveness.

The Guardian

The process of learning about our microbiome is in its early days, but even the most tentative results have begun to transform our understanding of human health.

The New Yorker

Media reports saying "studies show... ..... are most often giving us highly tentative results — indeed, results that are likely to be false.

The New York Times

Even tentative results of Sunday's presidential election likely won't be known for at least 10 days, despite the election, which involved 54 presidential candidates and tens of thousands of contenders for other races, going unusually smoothly.

The Guardian

The figures, which reflect tentative results from Nielsen, a research firm, also reveal a more striking fact: the Fox News Channel beat the competition by a mile.During prime time (8pm to 11pm), CNN notched up an average of 2.4m viewers.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

On July 23rd, the government's efforts produced a tentative result, as commanders for the Seleka and the antibalaka signed a peace agreement.

The New Yorker

The Supreme Court reached an unfortunate, if tentative, result, unduly shielding Vice President Cheney from answering questions about his task force's activities.

The New York Times

But halo stars are too rare to give more than a tentative result at this point, he says.

Science Magazine

A tentative result at least for the two types of SCs studied is that the chicane results in a reduced effect on speed variation compared to the hump.

Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour

While we note that alternative explanations, unrelated to electron transport, have not been ruled out, we focus on the physical implications of this tentative result for the collisional thick target model.

Advances in Space Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "tentative results", clarify the limitations or potential biases that might affect the interpretation of the results. This adds credibility to your analysis.

Common error

Avoid presenting "tentative results" as definitive conclusions. Clearly indicate that further research or validation is needed to confirm the initial findings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tentative results" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes the outcomes of a study, experiment, or investigation that are not yet fully confirmed or conclusive. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

62%

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "tentative results" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase, especially in scientific and news contexts, to describe preliminary or unconfirmed findings. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is perfectly acceptable in written English. When employing this phrase, it's crucial to emphasize the need for further investigation and avoid presenting it as definitive. Consider related terms such as ""preliminary findings"" or "early indications" to add nuance, and remember to clarify potential limitations affecting interpretation. Being mindful of these points will enhance the clarity and integrity of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preliminary findings

Focuses on the early stage of the results, similar to 'tentative' but emphasizes the temporal aspect.

initial outcomes

Highlights the beginning phase of a process, suggesting that further results may follow.

provisional data

Emphasizes the data aspect, suggesting that the data is not yet fully validated.

early indications

Suggests that the results are pointing in a certain direction but are not conclusive.

unconfirmed results

Highlights the lack of confirmation, emphasizing the uncertainty.

pilot study results

Specifically refers to the results of a pilot study, implying a small-scale preliminary investigation.

approximate findings

Indicates that the findings are not precise but are close to the actual values.

experimental outcomes

Highlights the experimental nature of the results, suggesting they may be subject to change.

interim results

Specifies that the results are temporary and part of an ongoing process.

suggestive results

Implies that the results are not definitive but hint at a particular conclusion.

FAQs

How to use "tentative results" in a sentence?

You can use "tentative results" to describe findings that are preliminary and not yet fully confirmed. For example, "The "preliminary findings" suggest a possible correlation, but more research is needed."

What can I say instead of "tentative results"?

You can use alternatives like "preliminary results", "initial outcomes", or "early indications depending on the context.

Which is correct, "tentative results" or "definitive results"?

"Tentative results" and "definitive results" describe opposite stages of findings. "Tentative results" are preliminary and uncertain, while definitive results are confirmed and conclusive.

What's the difference between "tentative results" and "suggestive results"?

"Tentative results" indicate a lack of certainty due to the early stage of investigation. "Suggestive results" imply that the findings hint at a particular conclusion but are not conclusive evidence.