a close guess

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a close guess" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to an estimation or approximation that is near to the correct answer or outcome. Example: "While I didn't get the exact number, my answer was a close guess based on the information provided."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Archives|$434,631,560 PAID IN MARCH.; Treasury Made a Close Guess of Income Tax Receipts.

The New York Times

$434,631,560 PAID IN MARCH.; Treasury Made a Close Guess of Income Tax Receipts.

The New York Times

The need of a close guess is removed because the present scheme operates on a set of bounds for the unknowns.

Advances in Space Research

Documents released under the Freedom of Information Act show that 28% of those tested managed a close guess at the contents of the envelopes, which included pictures of a knife and Mother Teresa.

The Guardian

Good agencies and breeders keep sound records of their kittens, and will be able to provide at least a close guess.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

This should give you a pretty close guess of how much thread you'll need.

WikiHow

However, the detailed exploration of the answers to challenge questions in the academic theme indicates security vulnerabilities and close guess possibilities by participants.

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

Jo Walton, author of The Just City: Tomorrow's trends swirl in a pixel glow Shaken and stirred and tipped in cups to go: Drink deep, peer close, guess what we cannot know.

Huffington Post

But, as the year draws to a close, the guessing game has begun about whether the bonuses for bankers have peaked and the volume of deals that have swamped the markets will now start to subside.

The Guardian - Business

Closest guess gets a TechCrunch tshirt.

TechCrunch

Closest guess before 1PM Eastern wins a Microsoft Explorer Mini mouse!

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To emphasize the degree of certainty or uncertainty, add qualifiers such as "remarkably close guess", "surprisingly close guess" or "not such a close guess".

Common error

Avoid using "a close guess" when the estimation is significantly off or based on little to no evidence. Using it in such cases can mislead the audience about the reliability of the information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a close guess" functions as a noun phrase, often acting as a subject complement or object. It describes the quality of an estimation or prediction, indicating its relative accuracy. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a close guess" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase indicating an estimation or prediction that is reasonably accurate but not necessarily exact. Ludwig AI confirms this. It's commonly found in news, media, and general discussions. When employing this phrase, ensure the estimation is indeed near the correct answer to avoid misleading your audience. Consider alternatives like "a near approximation" or "a rough estimate" to fine-tune the conveyed meaning. Keep in mind that, while generally neutral, it's most impactful when used with an appropriate understanding of the context and the degree of certainty you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a near approximation

Emphasizes the approximate nature of the guess, highlighting that it's not exact but nearly correct.

a rough estimate

Indicates that the guess is not precise and is based on limited information, suggesting a level of imprecision.

an educated guess

Suggests that the guess is based on some knowledge or expertise, implying a more informed estimation.

a fair assessment

Indicates that the guess is considered reasonable and unbiased, implying a balanced evaluation.

a good estimation

Highlights the quality of the estimation, suggesting it's well-reasoned and likely accurate.

an accurate prediction

Focuses on the predictive aspect of the guess, emphasizing its potential correctness about a future event.

a reasonable conjecture

Suggests the guess is a thoughtful conclusion based on incomplete evidence, implying some uncertainty.

a probable inference

Highlights the logical deduction aspect of the guess, suggesting it's a likely conclusion based on available data.

a plausible hypothesis

Implies the guess is a proposed explanation that needs further testing, suggesting a scientific or investigative context.

a ballpark figure

Indicates a very approximate guess, often used in numerical contexts where precision is not critical.

FAQs

How can I use "a close guess" in a sentence?

You can use "a close guess" to describe an estimation that is near the correct answer. For instance, "The weather forecast was "a close guess" about the temperature for tomorrow".

What's a good alternative to "a close guess"?

Alternatives include "a near approximation", "a rough estimate", or "an educated guess", each emphasizing different aspects of the estimation process.

In what situations is it appropriate to use the phrase "a close guess"?

The phrase "a close guess" is suitable when the estimation is reasonably accurate but not precise, and you want to acknowledge the uncertainty while highlighting the proximity to the correct answer. For instance, “The detective's assumption of the perpetrator's identity was "a close guess", although their motive was entirely different.”

What makes "a close guess" different from "a wild guess"?

"A close guess" implies some level of accuracy or informed estimation, while "a wild guess" suggests a completely random or uninformed estimation, without any basis in evidence or knowledge.