a good estimate

USAGE SUMMARY

"a good estimate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are trying to describe a guess or prediction of a number or value as being reasonable or close to the true value. For example: "After doing the calculations, I can make a good estimate of the cost of the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

About $500 billion is a good estimate for America, over a trillion dollars for the world.

Forbes

"That's probably a good estimate.

The New York Times

For LETG+HRC-S spectra, a good estimate for wl is 0.07Å.

Harvard University

For most people, a calculated LDL provides a good estimate of the directly measured LDL.

Harvard University

The BMI provides a good estimate of body fat, and it's more accurate than skinfold measurements.

Harvard University

This provides a good estimate of Harvard's affordability, but is not a guarantee of aid.

Harvard University

Therefore, a good estimate of expected yield is crucial to attaining accurate N recommendations.

Cornell University

So given a good estimate of the forcings, the model did a reasonable job.

Columbia University

Therefore, a good estimate of expected yield is critical to attaining accurate N recommendations.

Cornell University

No one has a good estimate of how much the space station will cost".

The New York Times

Therefore, it is important to provide designers a good estimate of stresses near free edges.

Thin Solid Films

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, consider whether a more precise term like 'approximation' or 'calculation' might be more appropriate than "a good estimate" depending on the context.

Common error

Avoid presenting "a good estimate" as a definitive fact. Always acknowledge the inherent uncertainty and potential for error when using estimates.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a good estimate" functions as a noun phrase. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it modifies an unquantified noun or pronoun, it serves to indicate the accuracy or reliability of a value.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

27%

Academia

21%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

3%

Unknown/unmatched sources

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a good estimate" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that indicates an approximate value or quantity is reasonably accurate. Ludwig AI confirms that it is correct and usable in written English. It appears across different domains, from Science to News & Media and Academia, as well as more formal contexts. While interchangeable with alternatives like "a reasonable approximation" or "a fair assessment", it is essential to use it accurately to avoid overstating confidence. Ultimately, "a good estimate" is a versatile and practical expression for expressing approximate values with reasonable accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a reasonable approximation

Replaces "estimate" with "approximation", suggesting a close but not necessarily exact value, also replaces "good" with "reasonable".

an educated projection

Uses "projection" instead of "estimate", emphasizing a forecast based on available data, and adds "educated" to highlight the informed nature of the projection.

a fair assessment

Substitutes "estimate" with "assessment", implying a judgment or evaluation of something, and "good" with "fair", indicating impartiality.

a credible forecast

Replaces "estimate" with "forecast", emphasizing a prediction of future events, and "good" with "credible", stressing believability.

a reliable prediction

Substitutes "estimate" with "prediction", focusing on forecasting a future outcome, and "good" with "reliable", highlighting trustworthiness.

a close calculation

Replaces "estimate" with "calculation", emphasizing a more precise, mathematically derived value, and substitutes "good" with "close".

a sound valuation

Replaces "estimate" with "valuation", implying a formal assessment of worth or value, and "good" with "sound", stressing reliability and accuracy.

a rough figure

Uses "figure" instead of "estimate", implying an approximate numerical value, and "rough" instead of "good", emphasizing imprecision.

a practical reckoning

Replaces "estimate" with "reckoning", suggesting a calculation or judgment, and "good" with "practical", highlighting usefulness and relevance.

a decent guess

Replaces "estimate" with "guess", suggesting a less formal and potentially less accurate prediction, and "good" with "decent".

FAQs

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

You can use "a good estimate" when you want to indicate that a value or quantity is reasonably accurate, though not exact. For example, "Based on the available data, we can get "a good estimate" of the project's total cost."

What's the difference between "a good estimate" and "a rough estimate"?

"A rough estimate" implies a lower degree of precision than "a good estimate". While both are approximations, "a good estimate" suggests a higher level of confidence in its accuracy.

What can I say instead of "a good estimate"?

You can use alternatives like "a reasonable approximation", "a fair assessment", or "a close calculation" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "a good estimate" in writing?

It's appropriate to use "a good estimate" when you need to provide an approximate value or quantity, but you don't have exact figures available. This is common in situations like project planning, budgeting, or forecasting.