Preliminaries

Preliminaries are items, conditions, or activities that prepare for a larger task, project, or study. They set the scene, establish ground rules, and address essential prerequisites such as definitions, background information, equipment, or initial steps. They are distinguished from the main work and conclusions.

In mathematics and related fields, preliminaries refer to the initial setup used to frame arguments. This includes fixing notation, stating conventions, and listing basic definitions, facts, or lemmas that will be used later. A preliminaries section helps readers understand the context without altering the core proofs.

In competitive environments, preliminaries are the initial rounds that determine who advances to later stages. Formats vary, including heats, group stages, or qualifier rounds, and outcomes often depend on scores, times, or placements.

In construction, engineering contracts, and project management, preliminaries cover site establishment and early tasks such as permits, temporary facilities, safety measures, utilities, access, and initial administrative costs. They are typically priced separately from the main scope of work.

In research design and data analysis, preliminary work includes pilot studies, exploratory analyses, or a planned initial assessment to inform methodology and sampling decisions.