a decent approximation of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a decent approximation of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a value, measurement, or concept that is close to but not exactly equal to something else. Example: "The model provides a decent approximation of the actual data, allowing us to make informed predictions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

What other single number can give a decent approximation of quality of life?

The Economist

With inspiration from around the world, British cities now offer a decent approximation of anything you could want.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Because this dynamic neglects the effects of polymorphism in the population beyond the mutant allele under consideration, the steady state solution provides a decent approximation of evolutionary dynamics when the population mutation rate is low (Nu≪1).

Theoretical Population Biology

In summary, the proposed simple 2D model provides a decent approximation of the OSN-to-PN transformation and corroborates the notion that PNs mainly encode OSN spike rate and its rate of change in a nonlinear fashion.

eLife

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Printed texts, however, were generally corrected or seen through the press by the author, or at all events by a contemporary, so that the editor may be reasonably confident of reproducing at least a decent approximation to authorial usage.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The result is a rapidly converging algorithm that provides a decent approximation to the Karcher mean.

Bioinformatics

All together, the franken-beast you end up with turns your phone into a pretty decent approximation of a professional video production solution.

TechCrunch

While pigs are a fairly decent approximation of humans in such contexts, the study failed to detect two compounds, cadaverine and putrescine, usually found in decaying human cadavers.

The Guardian

(A decent approximation given true-positive rates of >99% in our quality filtered alignments, see Counting False Alignments below).

Plosone

Since a block size of 2 n along each dimension facilitates optimization and allows better memory management (aligned memory allocation), the choice of a 64 × 64 block size is a decent approximation.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

This will not provide a precise composition but it can give a decent approximation.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a decent approximation of", ensure the context clarifies the degree of acceptable error or deviation. This helps manage expectations and avoid misinterpretations.

Common error

Avoid presenting "a decent approximation of" as an exact or definitive value. Always acknowledge the inherent limitations and potential for error.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a decent approximation of" functions as a qualifier, indicating that something is close to, but not exactly, the real or ideal value. Ludwig examples showcase its use in various contexts, from describing the quality of life to the accuracy of scientific models. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a decent approximation of" is a useful qualifier indicating that something is reasonably close to an exact value or ideal representation. As validated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use in various contexts, including science, news, and general communication. While not as frequent as other similar expressions, it offers a clear way to convey a level of accuracy that is 'good enough' without being perfect. Remember to clarify the context to avoid overstating the accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a fair representation of

Highlights the accuracy and impartiality of the depiction.

a rough estimate of

Focuses on the inexact nature of the estimation, implying a lack of precision.

a reasonable likeness to

Emphasizes the similarity in appearance or characteristics rather than a numerical estimation.

a practical equivalent to

Suggests the alternative provides a similar function or outcome in real-world scenarios.

a close parallel to

Suggests a strong similarity and direct correspondence.

a good enough substitute for

Implies the phrase is adequate for practical purposes, even if not ideal.

a credible simulation of

Highlights the believability and authenticity of the replica.

an effective stand-in for

Highlights the substitutive role and sufficient functionality.

a working model of

Focuses on providing a functional demonstration of something more complex.

an informed guess about

Stresses the speculative aspect of the assessment.

FAQs

How can I use "a decent approximation of" in a sentence?

Use "a decent approximation of" when you want to express that something is reasonably close to the actual value or representation, but not perfectly exact. For example, "The model provides "a decent approximation of" the real-world data".

What are some alternatives to "a decent approximation of"?

Alternatives include phrases like "a reasonable estimate of", "a fair representation of", or "a rough estimate of" depending on the context and desired level of precision.

When is it appropriate to use "a decent approximation of"?

It's appropriate when you need to convey that a value or result is not exact but is close enough for the intended purpose. This is common in scientific modeling, estimations, and simplified explanations.

How does "a decent approximation of" differ from "an exact measurement of"?

"A decent approximation of" indicates a level of imprecision or estimation, while "an exact measurement of" implies a high degree of accuracy and precision. The former is suitable when precision isn't critical, whereas the latter is needed when accuracy is paramount.