approximately apply

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "approximately apply" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward. You can use it in contexts where you want to indicate that something is being applied in a rough or estimated manner, but it may be clearer to use alternative phrases. An example could be: "The rules approximately apply to this situation, but some adjustments may be needed." Alternative expressions include "roughly apply" and "generally apply."

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In order to (approximately) apply LMMSE estimation in the case where c is not known to the destination, we simply replace c and |c|2 by their a posteriori expectations μ ( i ) and σ ( i ), respectively, yielding Ä¥ SRD ( i ) = σ ( i ) H SR N SRD, avg âˆ' N RD σ ( i ) H SR ( N SRD, avg âˆ' N RD ) + N SRD, avg N SR Ä¥ SRD, ML ( i ), (21).

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

This may at least approximately apply for the control treatment if a large number of data from previous experiments is available.

Biometrical Journal

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The comparison indicates that our activity coefficients model may be approximately applied in the ranges of temperature from 298.2 to 323.2 K and mNaOHT from 0 to 8 mol/kg H2O.

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta

These observations together with the fact that the NBL – at least approximately – applies to many empirical data led to the suspicion that the size of 'natural' objects must follow a distribution behaving like a survival distribution in order to be able to obey the NBL.

Plosone

While this boolean property is somewhat relaxed in this manuscript, it still (approximately) applies to the majority of nodes.

Biology Direct

These statements, which are formally about the global recording rate, apply, approximately, to the average recording rate across volcanoes (Section "Definition of the recording rate").

Journal of Applied Volcanology

Some years approximately 200 people apply for only 5 positions available within the Texas Rangers.

WikiHow

Wireless service providers said that the coverage maps were not meant to depict actual service, but rather approximately where rates apply.

The New York Times - Tech

Certainly the statistics suggest uncomfortable truths: 24.8% of 21-year-old graduates are unemployed, approximately 83 graduates apply for every job, and nearly a million young people are out of work.

The Guardian

The solution can also apply approximately to piecemeal planar surfaces and to smooth convex surfaces.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

These relations are found to apply approximately to the whole range of rotational speed used in this work.

Chemical Engineering Research and Design

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "approximately apply" in technical or scientific contexts to indicate that a theoretical model or rule is being used as a best-fit estimation rather than an exact law.

Common error

Ensure that "approximately apply" is not used when the measurement itself is already qualified as an estimate. For example, avoid saying "approximately apply about five minutes"; instead, use "apply for approximately five minutes" to keep the syntax clear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "approximately apply" functions as an adverbial modification of a verb. In this structure, the adverb "approximately" qualifies the manner in which the action "apply" is performed, signaling that the implementation is an estimate rather than a precise execution. Ludwig AI notes that while the grammar is correct, the placement of the adverb before the verb is a distinct stylistic choice often found in technical prose.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Social Media

2%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "approximately apply" is a robust linguistic tool primarily utilized in specialized and technical environments. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is most frequently found in scientific research to describe the application of models, forces or dosages where absolute precision is impossible or unnecessary. While it may feel slightly formal or even redundant in casual conversation—where a phrase like "roughly apply" might be preferred—it remains a standard in formal reporting. The data suggests that writers should prioritize this phrase when seeking to maintain a professional and objective tone in quantitative or procedural descriptions. Ultimately, while Ludwig highlights its potential for awkwardness in general prose, its clarity in technical contexts makes it an indispensable part of academic and journalistic lexicon.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

roughly apply

Uses more informal language to suggest a general or imprecise application.

generally apply

Shifts the focus from mathematical approximation to broad situational relevance.

effectively apply

Suggests that the application works in practice even if not perfect in theory.

loosely apply

Implies a lack of strictness or precision in the implementation.

broadly apply

Indicates that the rule or method covers a wide range of instances.

partially apply

Suggests that only certain aspects of the method or rule are being utilized.

virtually apply

Indicates that the application is so close to the original that the difference is negligible.

practically apply

Focuses on the feasibility and real-world execution of the application.

essentially apply

Highlights that the core principles are being used, even if details vary.

mostly apply

Suggests that the application holds true in the majority of cases.

FAQs

How do I use "approximately apply" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe an estimated action, such as "The formula should "approximately apply" to the current data set to provide a rough estimate".

What can I say instead of "approximately apply"?

Depending on your context, you can use more idiomatic phrases like "roughly apply", "generally apply" or "typically apply".

Is it correct to use "approximately apply" in academic writing?

Yes, it is common in academic and scientific fields. Ludwig examples show frequent usage in journals like the "EURASIP Journal" to describe estimation techniques.

What is the difference between "approximately apply" and "roughly apply"?

While both mean nearly the same thing, "approximately apply" sounds more formal and scientific, whereas "roughly apply" is more suitable for conversational or journalistic writing.