approximate year

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "approximate year" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to indicate a year that is not exact but is close to the actual year being referred to. Example: "The artifact dates back to the approximate year of 1500."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

DeJesus and her Bruins teammates appear in the video above, which offers a tour through a decade of viral dances, based on the approximate year they caught everyone's attention.

The New Yorker

But when he found Farber via an Internet search just a few days before his planned wedding, the only leads Rashkow could provide him with were his maternal grandmother's name and her approximate year of death.

The New York Times - Magazine

Runner's World did a comprehensive study on what it would take to hit the number and landed on 2075 as the approximate year it would go down.

TechCrunch

growing over a shallow aquifer contaminated by chlorinated hydrocarbons were studied to determine if it was possible to estimate the approximate year that contamination began.

Journal of Contaminant Hydrology

Each is listed by the city name, in general chronological order with the approximate year of settlement or city charter.

Wikipedia

The place of Cyrene within the poem has implications beyond the level of content, for if her narrative is to be connected to the city of Cyrene in Libya, the terminus post quem for the composition of the Catalogue would be 631 BC, the approximate year of that city's foundation.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

He labelled all the valleys of the zigzag with the approximate years of low markets and recessions: 1957, 1968, 1974, 1983, and on.

The New Yorker

This represents an approximate year-on-year increase of just over 1%.

BMJ Open

Age was calculated as years since date of birth (schoolchildren) or approximate years as given by contractor.

Environmental Health Perspectives

The median follow-up time in NLST was 6.5 years, corresponding to an approximate 5.5 year follow-up of cancers from the time of diagnosis, and the fatality rate observed in the control group was 47%.

British Journal of Cancer

We calculated age based on an approximate 'sheep year' running from May through to April rather than using a calendar year.

Experimental Gerontology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "approximate year", ensure the context provides sufficient clues for the reader to understand the degree of approximation. For example, specify if it's within a decade or a few years.

Common error

Avoid following "approximate year" with highly specific details that contradict the approximation. For example, don't say "the approximate year of 1863, give or take a month."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "approximate year" functions as an adjective phrase + noun, modifying a statement about time. It indicates that the year is not known exactly, offering a close or reasonably accurate estimation. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

27%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "approximate year" is a useful tool for indicating a year that is not known with certainty. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and versatile, fitting into various writing styles. It appears most frequently in scientific and news contexts. Related phrases include "estimated year" and "roughly the year", each offering slight nuances in meaning. When using "approximate year", be sure the level of precision matches the context, avoiding both excessive detail and vagueness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

estimated year

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

roughly the year

Uses "roughly" to indicate an inexact estimation.

around that year

Employs "around" to denote proximity in time without specifying a precise estimate.

in the vicinity of that year

More formal way of saying 'around that year', highlighting an imprecise timeframe.

circa that year

Uses "circa", a Latin term, to indicate the year is approximate.

about that year

Uses "about" to indicate that the year is not precise.

the general time of

Focuses on the era rather than a specific year.

the timeframe of

Highlights the period when something occurred, rather than the exact year.

the epoch of

Implies an even broader period.

the age of

Suggests a large range of time

FAQs

How do I use "approximate year" in a sentence?

"Approximate year" is used to indicate a year that is not precise. For example, "The building was constructed in the approximate year of 1920."

What can I say instead of "approximate year"?

You can use alternatives like "estimated year", "roughly the year", or "around that year" depending on the context.

Which is correct: "approximate year" or "approximate date"?

Both are correct, but they refer to different levels of specificity. Use "approximate year" when the year is uncertain and "approximate date" when the day and month are also inexact.

What's the difference between "approximate year" and "estimated year"?

"Approximate year" suggests a less precise estimate, while "estimated year" implies a more careful calculation, although still not exact.