approximate time when

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "approximate time when" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to refer to an estimated or rough time for an event or occurrence. Example: "Can you provide me with the approximate time when the meeting will start?"

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Realize that to the right of each item is an approximate time when the feed listing was created.

WikiHow

The receipt will show details about the payment that you made and the approximate time when the item will arrive at the shipping address that you provided.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The app, which is available on Android or Apple devices, displays approximate times when Old Faithful, Grand, Castle and three other geysers in the park will erupt.

Huffington Post

This swollen phenotype became visible on about day 6, which is the approximate time point when a transition to virtually complete sterility is observed.

G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

Some evidence was obtained to suggest that listing sensory attributes in the order that approximate the time when they would be perceived during the course of consuming the sample is necessary unless consumers are given explicit instructions to recall all sensory perceptions and evaluate attributes on the list from that point of reference.

Food Quality and Preference

Churchill will be pictured alongside a view of Westminster with parliament's clock showing 3 o'clock – the approximate time on 13 May 1940 when Churchill declared in a speech: "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat".

The Guardian - Business

Churchill will be pictured alongside a view of Westminster with Big Ben showing 3 o'clock – the approximate time on 13 May 1940 when Churchill declared in a speech: "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat".

The Guardian - Business

Behind the portrait is an image of the Houses of Parliament, featuring the Great Clock on Big Ben with the hands set to 3 o'clock, the approximate time on 13 May 1940 when Churchill made his inaugural speech to the Commons as prime minister.

The Guardian - Business

In the derivation, they approximated pseudo-time to time when integrating outflow from matrix block, and moreover, (frac{{mu_{text{i}} c_{text{i}} }}{mu c} approx {{left( {frac{p}{Z}} right)} mathord{left/ {vphantom {{left( {frac{p}{Z}} right)} {left( {frac{p}{Z}} right)_{text{i}} }}} right.

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology

Whitehall II did not collect a precise date of retirement; we could detect an approximate time from the first phase when a participant said they were retired, but this question was only introduced from phase 4 onwards.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

If the data are assumed to have been collected at a time when the population approximated its stable age distribution, survival of individuals of age x can be inferred from the relative number of individuals in age classes x and x+1 (fx and fx+1, respectively).

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "approximate time when", ensure that the level of precision aligns with the context. If a more precise estimate is possible, provide it. If only a rough guess is available, indicate the range of uncertainty.

Common error

Avoid presenting the "approximate time when" as a definitive time. Use qualifiers like 'around', 'about', or 'roughly' to maintain appropriate ambiguity and avoid misleading your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "approximate time when" functions as a noun phrase specifying an estimated or imprecise point in time. Ludwig's examples showcase its use in contexts where exact timing is either unknown or unnecessary.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Wiki

37%

News & Media

33%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "approximate time when" serves to denote an estimated or imprecise point in time. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and usable across a range of contexts, including news, science and general informational writing. While not overly formal, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various audiences. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity by providing the available range of uncertainty and avoiding the presentation of estimates as definitive times.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

estimated time that

Replaces "approximate" with "estimated", emphasizing a calculated guess.

approximate moment that

Substitutes "time" with "moment", highlighting a specific point rather than a duration.

estimated point in time that

Adds "point in time" for emphasis of the temporality of the estimate

rough estimate of when

Uses "rough estimate" to convey a less precise approximation.

approximate period when

Replaces "time" with "period", focusing on a duration instead of a specific instant.

general timeframe that

Emphasizes a broad temporal boundary rather than a specific time.

projected time that

Uses "projected" to indicate a forecast of the time.

anticipated time that

Implies an expectation or anticipation of the time.

tentative time that

Highlights the uncertainty or provisional nature of the time.

ballpark figure for when

Emphasizes a very imprecise estimation.

FAQs

How can I use "approximate time when" in a sentence?

You can use "approximate time when" to refer to an estimated time for an event. For example: "The receipt will show details about the payment that you made and the "approximate time when" the item will arrive at the shipping address that you provided."

What's a more formal alternative to "approximate time when"?

A more formal alternative could be "estimated time that". This emphasizes a calculated guess rather than a rough estimate.

Is it okay to use "approximate time when" in academic writing?

Yes, it is acceptable, especially when precision is not possible or necessary. However, ensure it aligns with the overall tone and formality of your academic writing.

What can I say instead of "approximate time when" to indicate uncertainty?

To indicate uncertainty, you can use alternatives like "rough estimate of when" or "tentative time that".