approx

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "approx" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a shortened form of the phrase "approximately," which means "about" or "around." You can use it when you want to indicate that something is close to a certain value or quantity. Example Sentence: The approximate cost of the project was $10,000.

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

The practicals Rooms at the Excelsior Vittoria in Sorrento start from L390,000 (approx £130) for a single, L435,000 for a double.

The Guardian - Travel

(Makes 6 generously weighty cakes) 6g fast-action dried yeast (approx 1 tsp) 150ml warm water 250g self raising flour (or strong white bread flour, if you have it) ½ tsp table salt 1 tsp cinnamon 100g sultanas or other mixed dried fruit 50g butter, diced small 100g lard, diced small 1 egg to baste, optional 50g sugar Combine the yeast with 50ml lukewarm water.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The email to council officials said: "You either need to look for suitable alternative living accommodation for me for approx. 4-5 weeks or you will need to reschedule works and work around me…" Her email concluded: "Just a gentle reminder that I am the Lord Mayor, the first citizen, the rightful resident of the Mansion House and I have rights too".

Independent

For the dressing 100ml ponzu 1 red chilli, trimmed and finely chopped 2 spring onions, finely chopped A small piece of root ginger (approx 30g) scraped and finely chopped 1tbsp chopped coriander stalks  300-400 fresalmonmon fillet, skinned Mix all of the ingredients together for the dressing.

Independent

With separate daytime and evening menus, guests can enjoy starters ranging from toasted cumin mealworm hummus and breads to zesty black ant and olive-crusted goat cheese (approx £6.50).

Independent

The channel was allegedly offering to abandon a damaging news report if Jindal bought Rs100 crore (approx $20m , £11.5m of advertisements – a widely practised form of corruption in the Indian media.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

But at the DRC, as in the public imagination, the robots are mostly humanoid.Source: The Economist *When extended to full height Source: The Economist †Approx., dependent on pose Source: The Economist *When extended to full height     ‡When fitted with a "Manipulator 1.0" arm §Diameter/width Source: The Economist §Diameter/width Source: The EconomistThere are exceptions.

The Economist

Source: The Economist *When extended to full height Source: The Economist †Approx., dependent on pose Source: The Economist *When extended to full height     ‡When fitted with a "Manipulator 1.0" arm §Diameter/width Source: The Economist §Diameter/width Source: The Economist .

The Economist

By Predicative Comprehension, we may introduce predicate constants \(U\), \ V\) together with the assertions Let \ \Phi(X)\) be the formula \(X \approx U \vee X \approx V\).

SEP

Then we can agree that \(P \approx Q\) but \ KP = 3\) and \ KQ = 2\).

SEP

Consider a two-place predicate \(\dq{\approx}\), whose meaning is given by the following definition: According to the invariance criterion, \(\dq{\approx}\) is a logical constant just in case its extension on every domain is invariant under every permutation of that domain.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "approx" sparingly and only in informal contexts. In formal writing, always use "approximately".

Common error

Avoid using "approx" in academic papers, business reports, or any other formal document. Always opt for the full word, "approximately", to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The abbreviation "approx" functions as an adverb, modifying a number or quantity to indicate that it is an estimate rather than a precise figure. As Ludwig AI states, it's a shortened version of "approximately."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "approx" is a common abbreviation for "approximately", used to indicate an estimated value or quantity. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English, highlighting its informal nature. While prevalent in news and media contexts, its use should be limited to informal writing. For formal documents, opting for "approximately" maintains a more professional tone. Remember to consider your audience and the context of your writing when deciding whether to use "approx".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately

The full, unabbreviated form of "approx", suitable for formal writing.

about

A more general term for indicating an estimated quantity or value.

around

Similar to "about", suggesting a value close to a given number.

roughly

Indicates an estimate with a degree of imprecision.

in the neighborhood of

A more verbose way to express an approximate value.

give or take

Indicates a range around a specific value.

circa

Used for approximate dates or years.

in the vicinity of

Similar to "in the neighborhood of", but can apply to quantities other than values

or so

Placed after a number to indicate approximation.

something like

Indicates a likeness to an estimated value or quantity

FAQs

What does "approx" mean?

"Approx" is an abbreviation for "approximately", meaning about or around a certain value or quantity.

When is it appropriate to use "approx" in writing?

It is generally acceptable in informal writing, such as notes, emails to colleagues, or casual communication. Avoid using it in formal contexts, where /s/approximately is more suitable.

What can I say instead of "approx"?

You can use alternatives like "approximately", "about", or "around", depending on the context.

Is it OK to use "approx." with a period at the end?

While technically correct, using "approx." with a period is less common. The abbreviation is widely recognized and accepted without it.