Merely approximated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Merely approximated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that something is only an estimate or not exact. Example: "The results of the experiment were merely approximated, as we did not have access to precise measurements."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In [16], it has been showed that the SAM cost function is merely approximated by the sum-squared autocorrelation of the TEQ output sequence: J SAM ≈ ∑ l = P + 1 L c | R y ~ y ~ ( l ) | 2. (15).

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

The coloratura passages were merely approximated.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

There was still something otherworldly about the dancers, as though they were observers here, and were merely approximating human behavior.

The New Yorker

The outcomes clearly highlight that none of the existing devices can mimic the typical stress histories of the different alignments, merely approximating more or less some of these.

Construction and Building Materials

The argument leaves it open whether soul is a perfectly respectable member of intelligible reality, the way human bodies are perfectly respectable members of perceptible reality, or whether, alternatively, soul has some intermediate status in between intelligible and perceptible being, rising above the latter, but merely approximating to the former.

SEP

The larvae's chemical signal merely approximates the bee pheromone, so it only manages to deceive a small subset of the population.

Los Angeles Times

Even these words seem to be merely approximate labels for them: a Mundurukú who is shown three objects will sometimes say there are three, sometimes four.

The New Yorker

I watched in wonder as Elmer flew to and from his perch with an elegant efficiency that even the most sophisticated aircraft can merely approximate.

The New York Times

If a director purchases sufficient quantities of papier-mâché to suggest the settings specified in the libretto, and if singers and orchestral players merely approximate the notes in the score, you are assured of a passable evening's entertainment.

The New Yorker

However, a conclusive refutation has remained elusive, principally since none of the attempts to date have unambiguously avoided the critique that they have altered the properties of (M,R) in the coding process, producing merely approximate simulations of (M,R) rather than true computational models.

Biosystems

A modern scientific realist would insist that our views merely approximate the truth.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "merely approximated", ensure the context clearly indicates why the approximation is being made, such as limitations in data or the need for simplification.

Common error

Avoid presenting "merely approximated" values as definitive or precise. Always acknowledge the inherent uncertainty in the approximation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "merely approximated" functions as a modifier, specifically an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. It indicates the manner in which an action (usually calculation or estimation) was performed, emphasizing its inexact nature. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "merely approximated" is a grammatically correct expression used to indicate that something has been estimated or calculated imprecisely. As Ludwig AI points out, it's a usable phrase in English. Its use is relatively rare, primarily appearing in scientific and journalistic contexts. When using "merely approximated", it's essential to clarify the reasons for the approximation and avoid presenting it as a definitive value. Related phrases include ""roughly estimated"" or ""simply estimated"", offering alternative ways to convey a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Simply estimated

Replaces "merely" with "simply", emphasizing the basic nature of the estimation process and removing potential connotations of inadequacy.

Roughly estimated

Replaces "merely" with "roughly", emphasizing the lack of precision in the estimation.

Approximately calculated

Substitutes "approximated" with "calculated", suggesting a computational aspect of the estimation, while "merely" is replaced with "approximately" which is a more formal adverb.

Loosely estimated

Uses "loosely" instead of "merely", implying a less rigorous estimation process.

Just an estimate

Transforms the phrase into a noun phrase, highlighting the result as an estimation, removing the adverb "merely" and the verb "approximated".

Estimated imprecisely

Replaces "merely approximated" with a more descriptive phrase emphasizing the lack of precision.

Close to

Uses a short phrasal verb to indicate that something is approximate and not exact

Not precisely determined

Focuses on the lack of precise determination, rather than the act of approximation.

About

Uses a single word to express that something is approximate and not exact

In the ballpark

Uses an idiom to express that something is approximate and not exact

FAQs

What does "merely approximated" mean?

The phrase "merely approximated" indicates that something has been estimated or calculated in a way that is not exact or precise. It suggests a level of uncertainty or a lack of detailed accuracy.

How can I use "merely approximated" in a sentence?

You can use "merely approximated" to describe data, results, or figures that are not precisely determined. For example: "The project costs were "roughly estimated", as we did not have all the necessary information."

What are some alternatives to "merely approximated"?

Alternatives include "simply estimated", "roughly estimated", or "approximately calculated", depending on the context. These phrases convey a similar meaning of estimation with some degree of imprecision.

Is it better to say "merely approximated" or "exactly calculated"?

It depends on the context. If the value is indeed an exact calculation, use "exactly calculated". If the value is an estimation or close to the exact one, but not precise, use "merely approximated". Honesty and clarity are key. If you are not sure, use a more neutral expression like "estimated".