appearance of accuracy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "appearance of accuracy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the perception or semblance of being accurate, even if the actual accuracy may be questionable. Example: "The report gave an appearance of accuracy, but further investigation revealed several discrepancies."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

But I do worry about the appearance of accuracy without the real thing.

The New York Times - Books

Certainly, a clearly, deeply organized map presents a greater appearance of accuracy than a cluttered or shallow map.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Savitz has suggested that a spot measurement is not a gold standard for long-term, cumulative exposures, despite "all the appearances of accuracy" because it reflects "only a single point in time in a fluctuating system... .......... [ 19].

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

Despite the appearance of microscopic accuracy, the system at the time still assumed a margin of error of about 3.6 millimetres.

The New Yorker

Distinguish truth from appearances of truth.

WikiHow

Using 3 s to display each image, 81% accuracy was acquired using only the appearance of iris and 76% accuracy using only the appearance of periocular.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

The QWL Task Force then refined these items to consider, among other things, issues of accuracy, relevance, readability, grammar, potential for offensiveness, and appearance of cultural or gender bias.

BMC Health Services Research

Finally, the proposed technique performed the best in terms of accuracy metrics and visual quality, as it provided the highest accuracy values and adequate quality with natural appearance results.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

The most effective appearance trait increasing accuracy of sea survival selection was skin colour.

Evolutionary Applications

By whose standard of accuracy?

The New Yorker

Secrecy stood in the way of accuracy.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "appearance of accuracy" when you want to convey that something seems accurate but may not necessarily be so upon closer inspection. It's useful in scenarios where perception matters, but the true extent of accuracy is questionable.

Common error

Avoid assuming that something is genuinely accurate simply because it presents an "appearance of accuracy". Always verify the underlying data and methodology to ensure true precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "appearance of accuracy" functions as a noun phrase, often used as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes the quality of seeming accurate, whether or not that accuracy is real. As Ludwig AI highlights, this can be used to discuss perceptions versus reality.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "appearance of accuracy" describes a situation where something seems accurate but may not actually be so. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in English. It's crucial to remember that the phrase highlights a potential difference between perception and reality. Related phrases include "semblance of precision" and "veneer of correctness". When writing, use this phrase to indicate caution and encourage verification, and avoid mistaking the appearance for the actual accuracy. While it is a correct form, its frequency of usage is rare.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

illusion of precision

Highlights the deceptive nature of the perceived precision, indicating that it is not real.

show of accuracy

Highlights the outward display of accuracy, without necessarily confirming genuine precision.

image of correctness

Focuses on the projected image of being correct, which may not reflect reality.

semblance of precision

Emphasizes the superficial similarity to precision, suggesting a possible lack of actual precision.

facade of precision

Suggests an outward appearance of precision that conceals a lack of true accuracy.

veneer of correctness

Highlights the superficiality of the correctness, implying a thin layer covering potential inaccuracies.

aura of exactness

Focuses on the impression of being exact, highlighting the perceived atmosphere rather than the reality.

guise of truthfulness

Focuses on the deceptive presentation of truth, indicating a potential underlying falsehood.

pretense of exactitude

Emphasizes the false claim or pretense of being exact, implying a deliberate deception.

air of infallibility

Suggests a perception of being incapable of error, which may not be justified.

FAQs

How can I use "appearance of accuracy" in a sentence?

You can use "appearance of accuracy" to describe something that seems accurate but might not be. For example, "The report gave the "appearance of accuracy", but further investigation revealed several discrepancies."

What is a good alternative to "appearance of accuracy"?

Alternatives include "semblance of precision", "aura of exactness", or "veneer of correctness", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to strive for actual accuracy or just the "appearance of accuracy"?

While the "appearance of accuracy" might be useful in certain situations, striving for actual accuracy is always preferable for ethical and practical reasons. Misleading with a false impression can have serious consequences.

What does it mean when something has the "appearance of accuracy"?

It means that it seems accurate at first glance, but this perception might be misleading. Further investigation is needed to confirm whether it's truly accurate or just gives that impression.