About Tentative Definition
Our Mission and Purpose
Tentative Definition exists to clarify how provisional language, preliminary explanations, and working definitions function across academic, professional, and scientific contexts. The project emerged from recognizing a widespread need for accessible information about tentative concepts—terms that appear frequently in research papers, project plans, and professional communications but rarely receive systematic explanation.
Language shapes how we think about uncertainty and knowledge development. When researchers frame claims tentatively, when project managers establish provisional timelines, or when writers hedge their conclusions appropriately, they demonstrate intellectual honesty and methodological rigor. Yet many people struggle to understand when and how to employ tentative language effectively. Students receive conflicting advice about thesis statements. Job candidates misinterpret tentative start dates. Emerging researchers overstate preliminary findings or, conversely, hedge excessively and undermine their credibility.
This resource addresses those challenges by providing evidence-based guidance grounded in linguistic research, professional standards, and practical experience. Our homepage explores tentative definitions across multiple disciplines, demonstrating how provisional explanations serve essential functions during knowledge development. The content draws on peer-reviewed research, professional organization guidelines, and analysis of how tentative language operates in real-world contexts.
We focus particularly on areas where tentative concepts create confusion or miscommunication. Employment contexts, where tentative start dates affect major life decisions, receive detailed attention. Academic writing, where students must balance confidence with appropriate caution, features prominently. Scientific methodology, where tentative hypotheses drive discovery, provides compelling examples of provisional thinking at its best. Our FAQ section addresses the specific questions people actually ask about these topics, based on search patterns and consultation requests.
The philosophy underlying this project recognizes that acknowledging uncertainty often represents intellectual strength rather than weakness. Science advances through tentative hypotheses that evidence may refute. Good project management incorporates tentative timelines that accommodate unforeseen challenges. Effective academic writing employs hedging that accurately reflects the probabilistic nature of empirical findings. By understanding how tentative definitions and provisional language function, people can communicate more precisely and think more clearly about the limits of current knowledge.
| Topic Area | Primary Audience | Key Questions Addressed | Practical Applications | Related Disciplines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tentative Definitions | Students, researchers | What, when, how to use | Academic writing, research | Linguistics, epistemology |
| Tentative Start Dates | Job seekers, managers | Meaning, implications, confirmation | Employment, project planning | HR, project management |
| Tentative Hypotheses | Scientists, students | Formation, testing, revision | Research design, experimentation | Philosophy of science |
| Tentative Language | Academic writers | Hedging strategies, appropriateness | Scholarly communication | Applied linguistics, rhetoric |
| Tentative Agreements | Professionals, negotiators | Legal status, finalization | Contracts, negotiations | Law, business |
| Tentative Thesis Statements | Students, educators | Development, refinement | Essay writing, research papers | Composition, pedagogy |
Evidence-Based Approach
Content on Tentative Definition draws from multiple authoritative sources rather than opinion or speculation. Linguistic research published in peer-reviewed journals informs our analysis of how tentative language functions in academic writing. Professional organization guidelines from bodies like the Society for Human Resource Management provide standards for appropriate usage. Government resources, including the National Science Foundation and U.S. Department of Education, offer frameworks for understanding how tentative concepts operate in institutional contexts.
We prioritize specific data over general claims. When discussing tentative start dates in employment contexts, we cite the Society for Human Resource Management's research indicating that 67% of job offers include tentative rather than definite start dates. When analyzing tentative language in academic disciplines, we reference corpus linguistics studies that quantify hedging frequency across 12,000 journal articles. These specific numbers, drawn from systematic research, provide more useful guidance than vague generalizations.
Historical examples demonstrate how tentative definitions evolve into established knowledge. The reclassification of Pluto in 2006, after 76 years of tentative planetary status, illustrates how scientific definitions crystallize through evidence accumulation and consensus building. Svante Arrhenius's 1896 tentative hypothesis about carbon dioxide and climate, which required 90 years to achieve scientific consensus, shows the extended timelines sometimes necessary for provisional ideas to gain acceptance. These cases ground abstract concepts in concrete developments.
The site also acknowledges limitations and areas of ongoing debate. Tentative definitions by their nature resist final answers. Different academic disciplines employ varying levels of hedging, reflecting genuine epistemological differences about achievable certainty. Project management methodologies like Agile explicitly embrace uncertainty through iterative planning, while other approaches seek more definite commitments. By presenting these variations rather than prescribing single approaches, we help readers understand the contextual factors that should guide their choices about tentative language.
External links throughout the site connect readers to primary sources and authoritative references. The Purdue Online Writing Lab offers detailed guidance on academic writing conventions. The FDA website explains how tentative hypotheses about drug efficacy must transform into statistically significant results before approval. Wikipedia articles on scientific methodology provide accessible overviews of hypothesis testing. These connections enable readers to explore topics in greater depth and verify claims against original sources.
| Source Type | Example Institutions | Information Provided | Update Frequency | Access Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peer-reviewed journals | Nature, Science, Applied Linguistics | Research findings, empirical data | Continuous | Academic databases, open access |
| Professional organizations | APA, SHRM, IEEE | Standards, guidelines, best practices | Annual revisions | Public websites, member resources |
| Government agencies | NSF, NIH, Dept of Education | Definitions, frameworks, funding criteria | As needed | Public .gov websites |
| Educational institutions | Purdue OWL, MIT OpenCourseWare | Writing guides, instructional materials | Periodic updates | Free online access |
| Standards bodies | ISO, ANSI | Technical definitions, specifications | Revision cycles | Purchase or library access |
| Major reference works | OED, Britannica | Formal definitions, etymologies | Continuous updates | Subscription or library |
Using This Resource Effectively
Tentative Definition serves multiple audiences with different needs. Students writing research papers can learn when tentative thesis statements help during early drafting and when more confident claims become appropriate. The distinction between tentative and formal definitions helps clarify expectations for different assignment types. Understanding tentative language patterns across disciplines enables students to match their writing style to field-specific conventions.
Job seekers encountering tentative start dates in employment offers gain clarity about what these dates mean and when to make commitments based on them. The typical confirmation timelines and change frequencies help candidates assess risk when making decisions about current employment, relocation, or other life changes. Knowing that 15-20% of tentative start dates change helps set realistic expectations and encourages appropriate caution.
Researchers and academics find guidance on forming tentative hypotheses, using hedging language appropriately, and transitioning from provisional to established definitions as evidence accumulates. The examples from various scientific fields demonstrate how tentativeness functions across different research contexts. Understanding when to hedge and when to make confident claims improves both the accuracy and persuasiveness of scholarly communication.
Project managers and professionals benefit from understanding how tentative timelines, agreements, and definitions facilitate planning under uncertainty. The tables comparing definition types and scenarios requiring tentative start dates provide practical frameworks for decision-making. Recognizing that different contexts warrant different levels of commitment helps managers communicate expectations clearly while preserving necessary flexibility.
The site's structure supports both focused information seeking and broader exploration. Readers with specific questions can proceed directly to the FAQ section, where eight detailed answers address common concerns. Those seeking comprehensive understanding can start with the homepage, which examines tentative definitions across multiple dimensions with supporting data and examples. Internal links connect related concepts, enabling readers to follow their interests through the material. All external links direct to authoritative sources where readers can verify information and explore topics in greater depth.
We encourage readers to apply these concepts critically in their own contexts. Tentative definitions and provisional language serve important functions, but their appropriateness depends on specific situations. A tentative thesis statement makes sense during early research but becomes a liability in a final paper. A tentative start date protects both parties during hiring but requires eventual confirmation. Understanding these distinctions enables more effective communication and clearer thinking about the relationship between knowledge, uncertainty, and action.