I was approximately

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was approximately" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when providing an estimate or approximation regarding time, distance, quantity, or other measurable aspects. Example: "I was approximately three hours late to the meeting due to traffic."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

At the time I took this photo, I was approximately 35 feet away.

The New York Times

Through FA targeting, the tumor uptake of FA-PLP-131I was approximately 4.41- and 12.8-fold higher compared to that of PLP-131I and free PTX-131I, respectively.

Nanoscale Research Letters

I was approximately five feet tall and all of 100 pounds.

Huffington Post

When I was approximately 23, a simple utterance reminded me of this.

Huffington Post

Even though I was approximately the seventeenth choice, this was still fantastic news .

Wikipedia

This is what I learned from reading Flowers in the Attic roughly 192 times when I was approximately twelve: Families are fucked.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

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

EJNMMI Research

For a completely localized wave function Ψ k (i) is approximately δ k i →P≈1 while for a typical delocalized wave function on D atoms, Ψ k (i) is approximately 1 D, and then P≈D.

Nanoscale Research Letters

From the best fit by Equation 1, it is obtained that the Q i is approximately 0.986 eV.

Nanoscale Research Letters

The capacity of a MIMO link l in state i is approximately given as [43], {R_{i}^{l}}=i cdot log_{2}left(1+frac{bar{rho}^{l}}{i}right) (4).

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

In a weighted correlation network, the propensity p i of node i is approximately |kME i | β.

BMC Systems Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "I was approximately", ensure the context clearly indicates what you are estimating. For example, "I was approximately 30 minutes late" clarifies the estimated duration.

Common error

Avoid following "I was approximately" with excessively precise figures (e.g., "I was approximately 30.00001 minutes late"). This undermines the purpose of using 'approximately' in the first place.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was approximately" functions as a qualifier to express an estimated or approximate measure of a state, time, or quantity. As supported by Ludwig, this construction allows speakers to convey information without strict precision.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I was approximately" is a versatile phrase used to convey an estimation or approximation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, particularly in science and news media. When writing, be mindful of avoiding over-precision following the phrase. Alternatives include "I was roughly" or "I was about", offering similar meanings with slight differences in formality. This phrase allows you to communicate with clarity when exact values are not known or necessary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was roughly

Replaces 'approximately' with 'roughly', suggesting a less precise estimation.

I was about

Uses 'about' instead of 'approximately', indicating a general estimation.

I was nearly

Substitutes 'approximately' with 'nearly', implying a close but not exact value.

I was close to

Replaces the phrase with 'close to', conveying proximity to a certain state or condition.

I was in the vicinity of

Employs 'in the vicinity of', suggesting a location or quantity that is near but not precise.

I was in the neighborhood of

Similar to 'in the vicinity of', but more informal.

My estimation was

Focuses on the act of estimating rather than the state itself.

I estimated that I was

Similar to 'my estimation was', but emphasizing the personal estimate.

I gauged that I was

Uses 'gauged' to imply a more considered assessment.

I figured I was

Employs 'figured' to suggest a casual or intuitive estimation.

FAQs

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

Use "I was approximately" to provide an estimate or approximation. For example, "I was approximately halfway through the book when I realized the ending".

What phrases are similar to "I was approximately"?

You can use alternatives like "I was roughly", "I was about", or "I was nearly" depending on the context.

When should I use "I was approximately" instead of "I was exactly"?

Use "I was approximately" when you are providing an estimate and the exact value is not known or not important. Use "I was exactly" when you know the precise value.

Is "I was approximately" formal or informal?

"I was approximately" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though alternatives like "I was about" might be preferred in more casual settings.