approximately a minute

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "approximately a minute" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to indicate an estimated duration of time that is close to one minute. Example: "The meeting will last approximately a minute, so please be ready to start on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

It's an audio news service that offers their target audience - "millennials" (aka 18 to 28-year-olds) - quick-fire stories on mobile lasting approximately a minute.

The Guardian

"There are a couple that are approximately a minute, but all of the rest are below that, and they are really close to the citywide average".

The New York Times

Mr Martin was riding a time trial, so Gard should have been aware of a stream of cyclists spaced approximately a minute apart for a stationary spectator (or about 20 seconds relative to Gard).

The Guardian - Opinion

Approximately a minute passed before Galvez began banging on the door to get her friend, the women said.

Huffington Post

(262) The heat-capacity changes seem to be proportional to the volume changes, 263) as well as to the relaxation times, which range from seconds to approximately a minute.

Chemical Reviews

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Costs are estimated on a per-minute basis, beginning at approximately $800 a minute and going up well beyond $2,000.

Forbes

The maximum light intensity on its surface does not exceed 1000 lux, and the illumination time for one capture is approximately half a minute.

Heritage Science

Lastly, the monkeys looked into the large mirror approximately once a minute, a rate that decreased slightly across all five sessions but the decline did not reach significance.

Plosone

During this scan, subjects simply pressed a button whenever they saw a fixation mark change color, which occurred approximately once a minute.

Cerebral Cortex

The physicians stated that these first impressions are useful, because they only have approximately half a minute to decide on how to approach the claimant.

BMC Public Health

Replace the battery at least once a year, and any time the unit starts chirping (a short beep sounding approximately once a minute).

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When estimating time, consider your audience. In formal writing, "approximately a minute" is appropriate. In casual conversation, "about a minute" might be preferable.

Common error

Avoid using "approximately a minute" when a more precise measurement is readily available or necessary. If you know the time is 58 seconds, state that instead of using an approximation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "approximately a minute" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause by specifying the duration of an action or event. It indicates an estimated duration of time close to, but not necessarily exactly, 60 seconds. Ludwig confirms this usage through various examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "approximately a minute" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase for estimating a short duration of time. While it is not extremely common, Ludwig's analysis shows that it is used across diverse contexts, including news, science, and general writing. Common alternatives include "about a minute" and "roughly a minute". Ludwig AI confirms the validity of the phrase. Using "approximately a minute" is appropriate when a precise time is not necessary or known, and ensures that the audience is given a reasonable expectation of the time frame being discussed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

about a minute

Replaces "approximately" with a more common and simple adverb.

roughly a minute

Uses "roughly" as a synonym for "approximately", indicating an estimate.

around a minute

Substitutes "approximately" with "around", suggesting an imprecise time frame.

close to a minute

Emphasizes the proximity to one minute, rather than a direct estimate.

nearly a minute

Indicates the duration is just short of a full minute.

almost a minute

Similar to "nearly a minute", focusing on approaching the one-minute mark.

in the neighborhood of a minute

A more verbose alternative indicating an estimated duration.

in the vicinity of a minute

Similar to "in the neighborhood of a minute", suggesting an approximate duration.

just under a minute

Highlights that the time is slightly less than a full minute.

a little over half a minute

Indicates a time slightly more than 30 seconds.

FAQs

How can I use "approximately a minute" in a sentence?

You can use "approximately a minute" to estimate a short duration, such as "The presentation will last "approximately a minute", so please be concise."

What can I say instead of "approximately a minute"?

You can use alternatives like "about a minute", "roughly a minute", or "almost a minute depending on the context.

Is it better to say "approximately one minute" or "approximately a minute"?

Both "approximately one minute" and ""approximately a minute"" are grammatically correct. The choice often depends on stylistic preference and context, with "approximately one minute" sounding slightly more formal.

What's the difference between "approximately a minute" and "exactly a minute"?

"Approximately a minute" implies an estimation, while "exactly a minute" indicates a precise duration. If you need precision, avoid using ""approximately a minute"".