a decent estimate

USAGE SUMMARY

"a decent estimate" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It is commonly used to describe something that is considered to be a fair or reasonable estimate. Example: "After hours of research and analysis, the experts finally came up with a decent estimate of the company's revenue for the next quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The estimation procedure for the convolution model produces a decent estimate of the mean, but is not accurate for the rate parameter.

BMC Genomics

In Figure 3, a decent estimate of Pperm is obtained with 10 permutation values (see also Table 1).

Bioinformatics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

A decent idea, though.

The Guardian - Tech

They can give you a decent ballpark estimate, but in a really close election that might not be good enough.

Vice

"As an island nation, with professional statisticians and effective border controls, we could gain decent estimates of who exactly is coming into this country, where they come from, and why they are coming here.

BBC

He added that $10 million was a decent rule-of-thumb estimate for what an effective fall campaign could cost.

The New York Times

The pricey movie about a man desperate to get to a plush man-made space station hovering above Earth opened with a decent $30.5 million, according to an estimate from distributor Sony Pictures.

Los Angeles Times

Retail analysts are expecting a decent holiday season, with many estimating that sales will increase about 3 percent over last year, with contributions from shoppers across income levels.

The New York Times

The well-reviewed romantic comedy "Crazy, Stupid, Love" (Warner) rounded out the top five with an estimated $19.3 million, a decent performance given the strong competition and its modest production cost of about $45 million.

The New York Times

Vladi estimates that a decent private island getaway can be had for a rock-bottom $200,000 $50,0000 to buy the island and $150,000 to build a house on it.

Forbes

Still, Samsung appears to be selling a decent chunk of them, with an estimated 18% of the total market, so it's a good place to start.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a decent estimate", ensure that the context clarifies the basis of the estimate. If the estimate is based on limited data or assumptions, acknowledge these limitations to maintain transparency and credibility.

Common error

Avoid presenting "a decent estimate" as a precise figure. Overstating the certainty of an estimate can mislead your audience and undermine trust in your analysis. Always frame estimates with appropriate qualifiers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a decent estimate" functions as a noun phrase, where "decent" modifies the noun "estimate". It describes the quality of the estimate being presented. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a decent estimate" is a grammatically correct and commonly understood expression used to describe an approximation that is reasonably accurate. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It's most frequently found in news and scientific contexts, suggesting its relevance in discussions requiring some degree of accuracy without demanding absolute precision. While the phrase may not be as impactful as stating that an estimate is entirely precise, it is a practical way to provide a basis for understanding when exact figures are unavailable. When using the phrase, it is useful to provide context about the origin of the estimate and any limitations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a reasonable approximation

Replaces "estimate" with "approximation", implying a less precise but still acceptable value.

a fair assessment

Substitutes "estimate" with "assessment", suggesting a judgment or evaluation of value.

a good approximation

Uses "good" instead of "decent", indicating a slightly higher level of quality or accuracy.

a ballpark figure

Replaces "estimate" with "ballpark figure", indicating an approximate number.

a rough calculation

Replaces "estimate" with "calculation", indicating that some mathematical computation was involved even if it was roughly done.

a credible prediction

Swaps "estimate" for "prediction", changing from a calculation of current data to a forecast.

a reliable forecast

Similar to prediction, but emphasizes the reliability of the forecasting method.

a practical guess

Indicates that the estimate is based on intuition, but that it is still grounded in reality.

a workable budget

Focuses specifically on financial estimation and suggests the amount is sufficient.

a satisfactory valuation

Emphasizes that the evaluation is adequate or acceptable for a particular purpose.

FAQs

How can I use "a decent estimate" in a sentence?

You can use "a decent estimate" to describe a reasonable approximation, as in, "The contractor provided "a decent estimate" for the renovation costs."

What's a good alternative to "a decent estimate"?

Alternatives include "a reasonable approximation", "a fair assessment", or "a ballpark figure", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "a decent estimate" or "a good estimate"?

Both "a decent estimate" and "a good estimate" are acceptable. "Good" implies a higher level of quality, while "decent" suggests it's adequate or satisfactory. The choice depends on the specific context and the degree of precision you want to convey.

What does it mean when someone says they have "a decent estimate"?

It generally means they have a reasonably accurate or acceptable approximation. It suggests the estimate is not perfect but is good enough for the intended purpose.