an approximate estimate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an approximate estimate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to convey that the estimate is not exact and is subject to some degree of uncertainty. Example: "The project will take an approximate estimate of three months to complete, depending on various factors."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Statisticians recognize that, human frailty being what it is, statistics are only ever an approximate estimate about what is happening in the real world.

The Economist

Clearly sufficient variability in a given stratigraphic record exists such that it may be virtually impossible to even come to an approximate estimate of the Earth's age based on this technique.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This figure gives an approximate estimate of the slug viscosity in coreflood experiments.

Petroleum Science

Such ways of assessing of English proficiency offer an approximate estimate, rather than an objective picture.

Language Testing in Asia

However, it is only an approximate estimate based on the existing integrated degree of hardware and the reliability of device.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

These values are compatible with an approximate estimate for the amount of clockwise rotation of Southwest Japan (~45°; Otofuji and Matsuda 1987).

Earth, Planets and Space

However, this oversampling imposes unnecessary complexity on the acquisition stage of the GNSS receivers where an approximate estimate of the code phase and Doppler frequency shift is produced.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Diffusion of oxygen was too fast to be measured accurately by the gravimetric method although an approximate estimate may be obtained from the initial uptake rate.

Chemical Engineering Science

Mobile industry analyst Benedict Evans has crunched the numbers on newly-released tablet sales figures from Asus and arrived at an approximate estimate of total Nexus 7 tablet sales for 2012, which clock in at between 4.5 and 4.8 million units per his math.

TechCrunch

A natural idea is that we could use an approximate estimate value to replace the (lambda_{mathrm{min}}(L+L^{H})), and simultaneously, the estimate value could guarantee α-SSS convergence.

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

Even though this approach is valid for independent bit error case, it provides a means to get an approximate estimate of the initial PER so that encoding ratio can be fixed appropriately.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an approximate estimate", clarify the potential margin of error or factors that could influence the actual outcome. For example, "The project will cost an approximate estimate of $1 million, but material costs could fluctuate."

Common error

Avoid presenting "an approximate estimate" as a definitive or guaranteed figure. Instead, use language that reflects the inherent uncertainty, such as "around", "roughly", or "in the neighborhood of".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an approximate estimate" functions as a noun phrase that typically serves as the object of a verb or preposition. Ludwig AI shows that it introduces a value or quantity that is not exact but close enough for a particular purpose.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

66%

News & Media

15%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an approximate estimate" is a noun phrase used to describe a value or quantity that is not precise, but close enough for a specific purpose. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage in various contexts, particularly in science and news media. When using "an approximate estimate", clarify any potential margin of error and prevent misinterpretation by avoiding overstating its precision. Alternatives include "a rough calculation" or "a ballpark figure".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a rough calculation

Focuses on the calculation aspect, implying a lack of precision.

a ballpark figure

Emphasizes the broad, general nature of the estimation.

a guesstimate

Highlights the combination of guessing and estimating.

a tentative assessment

Implies a preliminary evaluation subject to change.

a crude approximation

Stresses the simplicity and lack of refinement in the approximation.

a broad estimation

Highlights the wide scope and potentially lower accuracy of the estimate.

a working figure

Suggests a preliminary number used for initial planning.

an educated guess

Emphasizes the element of informed speculation involved.

a preliminary calculation

Underlines the early stage and potential incompleteness of the calculation.

a conservative estimate

Suggests a deliberate understatement to account for potential risks or uncertainties.

FAQs

How can I use "an approximate estimate" in a sentence?

You can use "an approximate estimate" to introduce a calculation that is not exact. For example, "The repair will cost "an approximate estimate" of $500" or "We need "an approximate estimate" of the project's timeline".

What is a good alternative to "an approximate estimate"?

Alternatives include "a rough calculation", "a ballpark figure", or "a guesstimate", depending on the context and level of formality you want to convey.

What does "an approximate estimate" imply about the accuracy of the figure?

Using "an approximate estimate" indicates that the figure is not precise and may vary from the actual value. It suggests that the estimate is based on incomplete information or simplified calculations.

In what situations is it appropriate to use "an approximate estimate"?

It's appropriate when a precise measurement or calculation is not feasible or necessary. This could be due to time constraints, lack of data, or the preliminary nature of a plan or assessment. In these cases it's better to provide "an approximate estimate" rather than no information at all.