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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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I approximately

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I approximately" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is typically used when you want to express an estimation or rough calculation, but it needs to be followed by a specific context or object to be meaningful. Example: "I approximately know the distance to the nearest gas station."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

An r-g of less than zero causes it to fall.Our interactive model uses the nominal interest rate (i) approximately equivalent to the ten-year bond yield and allows you to input your own inflation rate, π.

News & Media

The Economist

Congruent with theory and simulations, M R gluc max showed in our experiments an average 21% statistical power improvement with respect to MRgluc and 10% with respect to K i (approximately 20% savings in sample size).

h SEM image of ZIF-8 particles grown on PET film printed with protein and a pattern (i) (approximately 5 cm × 3 cm) of a monkey representing lunar year of 2016 formed by ZIF-8 particles grown on PET film printed with protein.

In this case, C h (CET = 2.7 nm) was comparable with C i (approximately 1-nm native SiO2) and the frequency dispersion effect was attributed to losses in the interfacial layer capacitance, caused by interfacial dislocation and intrinsic differences in the bonding coordination across the chemically abrupt ZrO2/SiO2 interface.

Out of approximately 625,000 Canadians who served in World War I, approximately 60,000 were killed and another 172,000 were wounded.

First, many European countries and the U.S. began to experience their tobacco epidemic in 1920s, after World War I, approximately 30 years earlier than Asian countries [ 69].

Science

BMC Cancer
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Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

As can be seen, in the sampled range, K i is approximately linear in [glc].

It displayed high tolerance to xylose, with K i value approximately 1000 mM.

"I observed that I had approximately the same chances of achieving that position as of becoming an astronaut," he said.

News & Media

The New York Times

"The amount of room I occupy now I pay approximately £850 per calendar month," he said.

News & Media

BBC

I waited approximately 0.5 seconds before I followed with my most casual "K, well, bye!" I turned for the exit.

News & Media

Huffington Post
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "I approximately". Instead, use more grammatically sound alternatives such as "I estimate", "I approximate", or "approximately". Clearly indicate what you are estimating to provide context.

Common error

Do not place "approximately" directly after "I" without a verb. This creates an ungrammatical sentence. Instead, ensure that "approximately" modifies a verb or a numerical value.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

60%

Authority and reliability

1.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I approximately" is grammatically incorrect and does not function as a complete grammatical unit in English. Adverbs like "approximately" need to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I approximately" is grammatically unsound and should be avoided in formal writing. As Ludwig AI says, the phrase is not correct. It is essential to use correct phrasing and choose alternatives such as "I estimate" or "approximately" followed by the value being estimated, to ensure clarity and correctness in your writing.

FAQs

Why is "I approximately" considered grammatically incorrect?

The phrase "I approximately" is incorrect because "approximately" is an adverb that needs to modify a verb or a numerical value. Directly following the pronoun "I" is grammatically unsound. You can say "I approximate" or use "approximately" before the quantity being estimated.

What can I say instead of "I approximately"?

You can use alternatives like "I estimate", "I reckon", or "I would say about" depending on the context and level of formality required.

Which is correct, "I approximately" or "I approximate"?

"I approximate" is the correct form. The verb "approximate" can be used to express making an estimation, whereas "approximately" requires a verb to modify.

How can I use "approximately" correctly in a sentence?

Use "approximately" to modify a verb, adjective, or number. For example: "The project will cost approximately $1000", or "I approximately calculated how much I would spend this month".

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Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: