tentative sign

USAGE SUMMARY

"tentative sign" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to an agreement or action that is still uncertain or likely to change. For example, "The two sides had only reached a tentative sign of a trade deal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

It is, at best, a tentative sign of a turnaround.

The Economist

Others, though, see the first, admittedly tentative, sign that reconstruction really is starting at last.

The Economist

That is a tentative sign that labor market mobility, which plunged during the 2007-9 recession, has started to recover.

The New York Times

While consumers are still minding their budgets, the rising sales are an encouraging, if tentative, sign of economic rebound after more than a year of steep shopper cuts.

The New York Times

But the median price of a single-family home increased 0.3percentt between April and May, an early if tentative sign that prices may be stabilizing.

The New York Times

In a first tentative sign of success, Standard & Poor's today confirmed Fiat's A3 short-term debt rating, saying that Fiat debt was no longer under negative observation.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Still, there are some tentative signs of new spending.

The New York Times

The euro zone remains troubled, despite tentative signs of recovery.

The Economist

In recent years there have been tentative signs of compromise.

The Economist

There are tentative signs that this may be working.

The New York Times - Tech

There are tentative signs of strengthening domestic demand in Mexico.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "tentative sign", clarify what the sign is pointing towards to provide context for the reader.

Common error

Avoid presenting a "tentative sign" as definitive proof. It's important to emphasize its uncertain nature to avoid misleading the audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tentative sign" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject complement or object of a sentence. It describes something as a preliminary indicator of a potential future outcome, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "tentative sign" is a commonly used noun phrase that indicates an initial or uncertain indication of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It's prevalent in news and media contexts, used to report on potential developments with cautious optimism. While grammatically sound and frequently employed, it's important to avoid overstating its significance and to clarify what the sign is pointing towards. Alternatives such as "preliminary indication" or "early signal" can be used to express similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preliminary indication

Stresses the temporary or provisional nature of the indication.

uncertain indication

Indicates a lack of confidence or clarity in the sign.

initial indication

Focuses on the idea of something being at the very beginning.

unconfirmed signal

Highlights that the signal still needs further verification.

early signal

Emphasizes the timeliness of the sign, suggesting it's appearing sooner rather than later.

possible indicator

Highlights the potential nature of the sign as pointing towards something, but without certainty.

faint glimmer

Suggests a weak or subtle sign that is just starting to appear.

fragile evidence

Underlines the weakness and potential instability of the evidence.

hopeful symptom

Implies that the sign brings optimism or positive expectations.

incipient marker

Indicates that the sign is at an early stage of development or manifestation.

FAQs

What does "tentative sign" mean?

A "tentative sign" indicates an initial or uncertain indication of something, suggesting that further confirmation is needed.

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

You might say, "The increase in sales is a "tentative sign" of economic recovery", or "The agreement is a "tentative sign" that peace talks may be successful".

What are some alternatives to "tentative sign"?

You can use alternatives like "preliminary indication", "early signal", or "possible indicator".

Is "tentative sign" formal or informal?

"Tentative sign" is suitable for neutral to formal contexts, commonly found in news reports and business writing.