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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
approximate more closely
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "approximate more closely" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing the accuracy of a measurement or estimation in relation to a target value. For example, "The new model aims to approximate more closely the actual data." Alternative expressions include "come closer to" and "align more accurately."
✓ Grammatically correct
Science
News & Media
Encyclopedias
Alternative expressions(20)
come closer to
better reflect
more accurately represent
conform more closely
align more closely
adhere more closely
follow more closely
resemble more closely
integrate seamlessly
cleave more closely
keep a closer watch
hew closer
stick closer
keep close
maintain proximity
stay connected
hold together
keep in contact
maintain distance
maintain closeness
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
6 human-written examples
With the rods, attempts were made to approximate more closely the sound of the cast bell.
Encyclopedias
He's a troubled soul, "the sum of his confusions"; a humble bourgeois whose physical transformation also alters his inner self: he finds himself debating the morality of the atomic bomb with J. Robert Oppenheimer, as well as experiencing a longing for a woman so intense he contemplates amputating two legs to approximate more closely a human's four limbs.
News & Media
However, uncertainty estimation for the ICA output signals should be improved further, in order to approximate more closely the ideally achievable performance of this strategy.
One of our goals was to examine the performance of generalized logistic regression model as implemented in the difR package (Magis et al. [2013]) in a relatively large group setting; these group sizes approximate more closely the operational context of large-scale surveys.
It seems likely that change from baseline would approximate more closely to a normal distribution than the post-treatment score.
As the CARDIA subjects in 1987–1988 had higher values of chlorinated POPs than present in the NHANES studies in 2003 2004, we cannot exclude the possibility that some risk gradient was still masked in our CARDIA subgroup, even when we used the lowest control group sextile to approximate more closely a true zero risk reference group in our nested case control study.
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
54 human-written examples
The peak sediment values are approximated more closely by the wavelet ANN method.
Science
Not surprisingly, as the wrinkle length is reduced, the surface of the cell approximates more closely to the smooth sphere.
Science
A promising solution to this problem is to perform selective enrichment in continuous culture, where the conditions favorable for the species' growth can be approximated more closely.
Science
Studies conducted at 500 ppm CO and below [ 22- 24] yield maternal %COHb levels of roughly 28 [ 7], approximating more closely %COHb of adults smoking roughly two packs of cigarettes/day (up to 14%) [ 25].
Science
ISZ [ 18] approximates more closely the in vivo situation than other techniques and is becoming widely used in oncology [ 19, 20] and musculoskeletal research [ 21, 22] for localizing enzyme activity in human and animal tissues.
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Use "approximate more closely" when you want to emphasize that something is becoming a better, although not necessarily perfect, representation or estimate of something else.
Common error
Avoid using "approximate more closely" in very informal or casual writing. Simpler phrases like "get closer" or "resemble more" are often more appropriate.
Source & Trust
80%
Authority and reliability
4.3/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "approximate more closely" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate a higher degree of accuracy or similarity in an approximation. It describes the manner in which something is being approximated, suggesting movement towards a more precise value or representation. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable.
Frequent in
Science
83%
News & Media
11%
Encyclopedias
6%
Less common in
Formal & Business
0%
Wiki
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "approximate more closely" is a grammatically correct and useful expression for conveying an increasing degree of accuracy or similarity in an approximation. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it is most commonly found in scientific and formal contexts. When writing, it's best to reserve its use for technical discussions, simulations, or models where enhancing precision is key. While the phrase is somewhat uncommon, it is certainly appropriate in the right setting. Related alternatives include phrases like "come closer to", "better reflect", or "more accurately represent".
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
more closely resemble
Focuses on similarity in appearance or characteristics, rather than a general approximation.
better reflect
Emphasizes a more accurate representation or depiction.
more accurately represent
Highlights enhanced precision in portrayal or description.
come closer to
Simple and direct alternative, suitable for informal contexts.
get nearer to
Similar to "come closer to" but slightly less common.
align more accurately
Focuses on the alignment or agreement between two things.
approach more nearly
A more formal and somewhat archaic way of saying "approximate more closely".
nearer to the truth
Specifies the approximation is closer to the actual truth.
match more precisely
Emphasizes the precision of the approximation or correspondence.
mimic more faithfully
Focuses on the accuracy of imitation or replication.
FAQs
How can I use "approximate more closely" in a sentence?
You can use "approximate more closely" to describe how a model, simulation, or estimate is becoming more accurate. For instance, "The new economic model aims to "approximate more closely" the actual market behavior".
What are some alternatives to "approximate more closely"?
Alternatives include phrases like "come closer to", "better reflect", or "more accurately represent", depending on the specific context.
Is "approximate more closely" suitable for all types of writing?
While grammatically correct, "approximate more closely" is generally more appropriate for formal or technical writing. In informal contexts, simpler phrases may be preferred.
How does "approximate more closely" differ from "closely approximate"?
"Approximate more closely" implies a process of becoming more accurate, while "closely approximate" suggests a state of already being quite accurate. The former is dynamic, the latter is static.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
80%
Authority and reliability
4.3/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested