approximately 3 pm

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "approximately 3 pm" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when you want to indicate a time that is not exact but close to 3 pm. Example: "The meeting will start at approximately 3 pm." Alternative expressions include "around 3 pm" and "about 3 pm."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Breeding pairs were set up at approximately 3 pm and vaginal plugs were checked the following morning.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Randomized subjects received either one drop of LTFC at approximately 8 PM or the LTuFC consisting of one drop of latanoprost 0.005% at approximately 8 PM and one drop of timolol 0.5% at approximately 8 AM.

BMC Ophthalmology

They arrived at approximately 9 17 PM ET. 40.

The Washington Post

At approximately 1 30 pm the ship set sail for New York City.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The airplane, an Airbus A320 operated by US Airways, took off from LaGuardia at approximately 3 25 pm.

Britannica

At approximately 3 30 pm the 6,000-man 6,000-manvalry charged the 25,000-Mamlūkencavalry.

Britannica

According to his affidavit, filed in Connecticut Superior Court, "At approximately 3 00 PM Smiley left the library and I followed".

The New Yorker

For example, on Friday, June 23 , 2017 at approximately 3 12 PM, CAMERON COLLINS placed a 5 05 minute call to CHRISTOPHER COLLINS.

The Washington Post

At approximately 9 40 pm the Mesaba sent a warning of an ice field.

Encyclopedia Britannica

On March 9, 2016 at approximately 2 20 pm a domestic violence assault was reported on the Lower Columbia College campus.

Columbia University

At approximately 2 00 pm a cave-in occurred at the San Jose mine following warnings of disturbances earlier in the day.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "approximately 3 pm" when you need to specify a time but cannot be exact. This is useful in scheduling, reporting, or providing general information where precision isn't critical.

Common error

Avoid using "approximately 3 pm" when you have the exact time. If you know it was precisely 3:02 pm, stating the exact time provides clearer and more reliable information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "approximately 3 pm" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb or clause by specifying when an action occurs. It indicates an estimated or non-exact time. According to Ludwig AI, this follows standard grammar rules.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

24%

Academia

22%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Science

15%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "approximately 3 pm" is a grammatically correct and generally accepted way to indicate an estimated time, as verified by Ludwig AI. It functions as an adverbial phrase specifying when an action takes place, without requiring precise timing. While "approximately 3 pm" is not extremely common, it is suitable for use across various contexts, including news, academic writing, and general communication. When using this phrase, remember to consider alternatives like "around 3 pm" or "about 3 pm" and ensure that you're not using it when a more precise time is available. This helps maintain clarity and accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Around 3 pm

Uses "around" instead of "approximately", indicating a similar level of imprecision.

About 3 pm

Replaces "approximately" with "about", conveying the same meaning of estimation.

Roughly 3 pm

Substitutes "approximately" with "roughly", suggesting an approximate time.

Close to 3 pm

Uses "close to" instead of "approximately", suggesting a time near 3 pm.

Sometime around 3 pm

Adds "sometime" to further emphasize the lack of a precise time.

In the vicinity of 3 pm

More formal alternative to "approximately 3 pm".

3 pm or so

Informal way of saying approximately 3 pm.

At 3 pm give or take a few minutes

Explicitly mentions the potential for slight variation around 3 pm.

At approximately 15:00

Uses the 24-hour clock format while maintaining the approximation.

3 pm-ish

Very informal and colloquial way to express an approximate time.

FAQs

What does "approximately 3 pm" mean?

The phrase "approximately 3 pm" means around 3:00 pm, but not necessarily exactly at that time. It indicates an estimated time close to 3 pm.

How to use "approximately 3 pm" in a sentence?

You can use "approximately 3 pm" to indicate a scheduled meeting time, an estimated arrival, or a general timeframe. For example, "The meeting will start at "approximately 3 pm"".

What can I say instead of "approximately 3 pm"?

You can use alternatives like "around 3 pm", "about 3 pm", or "roughly 3 pm" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it better to say "approximately 3 pm" or "3 pm sharp"?

"Approximately 3 pm" indicates a time that is not exact, while "3 pm sharp" means exactly at 3:00 pm. Choose the phrase that best reflects the intended level of precision.