approximate balance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "approximate balance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a state of being close to a balanced condition, often in contexts like finance, weight, or any situation where equilibrium is sought. Example: "After reviewing the budget, we found an approximate balance between our income and expenses."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

Allocation of study treatments was performed via an Interactive Web Response System in balanced block sizes of 4 to ensure approximate balance among treatment groups.

Diabetes Care

After skeletal maturity is reached, the two processes maintain an approximate balance.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Because of the comparative slowness of mobilization, poor higher leadership, and lower scale of armament of the Russian armies, there was an approximate balance of forces between the Central Powers and the Allies in August 1914 that prevented either side from gaining a quick victory.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Acids were rapidly produced in the aerobic and facultative stages, and their production and utilization reached an approximate balance in the anaerobic stage.

Petroleum Science

The pseudo-steady states are detected as an approximate balance of large forces which bring about the motion of the solution in the phase space.

Chemical Engineering Science

Though propensity scores are unknown in observational studies, by matching or subclassifying patients on estimated propensity scores, we can design observational studies that parallel randomized experiments, with approximate balance on observed covariates.

Revista Española de Cardiología

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

It is unclear whether much confounding persists in our analysis, given the approximate initial balance observed in numerous measured factors and the further balance achieved after propensity score matching.

BMC Psychiatry

Both chamber and eddy covariance measurements suggest the system was in approximate carbon balance.

Environmental Pollution

Hence, we could achieve approximate workload balance among all processors by sacrificing the task scheduling masters' computation power.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

The approximate population balance model has been validated by comparing results with rigorous Monte-Carlo simulations for several cases.

Chemical Engineering Science

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, approximate material balance and thermodynamic analysis have confirmed the intracellular assimilation of CO2(g) as HCO3− and its metabolization into fatty alcohols.

Journal of CO2 Utilization

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing experimental designs, use "approximate balance" to indicate that treatment groups have been created to be as similar as possible on key characteristics, even if perfect equality is not achievable.

Common error

Avoid using "approximate balance" when you actually mean a precise or exact balance. This phrase implies a degree of imprecision, so using it when precision is intended would be misleading.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "approximate balance" functions as a noun phrase, where "approximate" modifies the noun "balance". It describes a state of near or rough equilibrium, rather than a precise or exact one. Ludwig confirms the validity and usability of this construction.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

75%

Encyclopedias

8%

News & Media

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "approximate balance" is a commonly used and grammatically correct way to describe a state of near equilibrium or rough equality. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it finds frequent application in scientific and academic writing, but also appears in news and encyclopedic content. Alternatives like "rough equilibrium" or "near equilibrium" can be used depending on the specific shade of meaning you wish to convey. It is crucial to remember that "approximate balance" implies a degree of imprecision; thus, it shouldn't be used when referring to situations demanding or achieving exactness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rough equilibrium

Emphasizes the instability and inexactness of the balance.

near equilibrium

Highlights the closeness to a state of balance without being exact.

relative equilibrium

Suggests balance is maintained when comparing different elements or forces.

general balance

Indicates a balance that is true in most cases but not necessarily all.

estimated equilibrium

Refers to a balance that is calculated or projected rather than precisely measured.

comparative balance

Highlights that the balance is established by comparing two or more entities.

partial balance

Suggests that the balance is not complete or all-encompassing.

close equilibrium

Indicates a state that is almost perfectly balanced.

approximate symmetry

Focuses on visual or structural balance instead of functional balance.

near symmetry

Similar to "approximate symmetry" but more focused on visual aspects.

FAQs

How can I use "approximate balance" in a sentence?

You can use "approximate balance" to describe situations where there's a near or rough equilibrium between different elements. For instance, "The study aimed to achieve an approximate balance between the treatment and control groups".

What's a good alternative to "approximate balance"?

Alternatives include "rough equilibrium", "near equilibrium", or "relative equilibrium", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

In what contexts is "approximate balance" commonly used?

"Approximate balance" is often used in scientific research, financial analysis, and general discussions where precision isn't critical but a general equilibrium is important. Ludwig's examples show its frequent use in scientific contexts.

Is it always appropriate to use "approximate balance" instead of "exact balance"?

No, it's not. "Approximate balance" implies a degree of imprecision. If the situation requires or has achieved a precise balance, using "exact balance" is more appropriate. Be careful with the nuance!