working draft

USAGE SUMMARY

The term "working draft" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a piece of work that is in progress and likely to change, such as a written document or a legislative bill. For example, "I'm sending you a copy of the working draft of the policy handbook."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

A working draft is expected this fall.

The New York Times

"It was a working draft version," the publisher's news release said.

The New York Times

The working draft of the plan is more than a hundred pages long, and includes numerous overlays designating the various restrictions that would be imposed upon property owners.

The New Yorker

The top-liner is usually a singer, too, and often provides the vocal for the demo, a working draft of the song.

The New Yorker

A1 A working draft of Iraq's new constitution would cede a strong role to Islamic law and could sharply curb women's rights.

The New York Times

Now Sotheby's is planning to auction what it says is Wilson's master copy of the working draft of "Alcoholics Anonymous," the Big Book's disarmingly straightforward official title.

The New York Times - Books

June 2000 In what President Clinton calls a day for the ages, Celera and the public consortium say they have a working draft of the genome.

The New York Times - Science

A page from a working draft of Octavia Butler's novel "Kindred," with handwritten notes and the novel's original title, circa 1977.

The New Yorker

The working draft aligns short stretches of DNA sequences from the 12 rice chromosomes.

Science Magazine

W3C standards evolve through different stages through work in these charted groups (working draft, candidate recommendation, proposed recommendation, and W3C recommendation).

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

A working draft of one of Bob Dylan's most popular songs, Like a Rolling Stone, has set a record at auction for a popular music manuscript.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "working draft" to clearly indicate that a document or plan is not yet finalized and is subject to change. This manages expectations and encourages feedback.

Common error

Don't assume your audience understands that a draft is still in progress. Always label documents clearly as a "working draft" to avoid misinterpretation and premature criticism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "working draft" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often used as an adjective preceding another noun (e.g., "working draft document"). It serves to modify and describe the subsequent noun, indicating its status as a preliminary and incomplete version.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "working draft" is a common and grammatically sound term used to describe a document or plan that is still in progress. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's frequently employed in news, science, and formal business contexts to indicate a preliminary version subject to change. When using the phrase, clarity is paramount; always ensure your audience understands the preliminary nature of the draft. While alternatives such as "preliminary version" or "rough draft" exist, "working draft" offers a specific level of formality suitable for a wide range of professional communications. The phrase's frequent appearance in authoritative sources underscores its reliability and acceptance in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preliminary version

Emphasizes the initial and potentially incomplete nature of the version.

initial draft

Highlights the early stage of the drafting process.

rough draft

Indicates a version that is not yet polished or finalized.

developmental version

Focuses on the ongoing development and refinement of the version.

incomplete version

Directly states the lack of completeness.

tentative draft

Suggests the version is subject to change and not yet firm.

early version

Highlights the temporal aspect of the version being in its early stages.

trial version

Implies the version is for testing and not the final product.

experimental draft

Suggests the version is part of an experiment and may not be viable.

in-progress version

Emphasizes the ongoing work and lack of completion.

FAQs

How can I use "working draft" in a sentence?

You can use "working draft" to describe a preliminary version of a document or plan, for example: "Please review the "working draft" of the proposal and provide your feedback by next week."

What's a good alternative to "working draft"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "preliminary version", "rough draft", or "initial draft".

Is it appropriate to share a "working draft"?

Yes, sharing a "working draft" is appropriate when you need feedback or collaboration on a document that is not yet complete. Just ensure it's clearly labeled as such.

What's the difference between a "working draft" and a final version?

A "working draft" is a preliminary version that is still under development and subject to change, while a final version is the completed and approved document.