approximately constant

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "approximately constant" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to indicate that a value or condition remains nearly unchanged, though not perfectly so. Example: "The temperature remained approximately constant throughout the experiment, allowing for consistent results."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

By contrast, the temperature of the continuous still is held approximately constant throughout the run.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The total flux remains approximately constant.

Earth, Planets and Space

Further, the ratio reaches approximately constant values.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Finally, the values remained approximately constant.

Environmental Sciences Europe

The mainstream Mach number was maintained approximately constant at 0.03.

International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer

The OTA input range remains approximately constant with gm adjustment.

Microelectronic Engineering

Surgery, anaesthesia, intensive care and logistics have approximately constant values.

Health Economics Review

Between these two thresholds, the error remains approximately constant.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Population remains approximately constant, with a small smooth increase.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

The proportions other ions remain approximately constant (Table 1).

Heritage Science

Both phenomena together remain compressive strength approximately constant.   5.

International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing experimental conditions or results, use "approximately constant" to indicate that a variable was maintained within a narrow, acceptable range, allowing for slight fluctuations without significantly affecting the outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "approximately constant" when the variable in question fluctuates significantly. Instead, acknowledge the variability explicitly, or use alternative phrases like "within a certain range" or "generally stable."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "approximately constant" functions as an adjectival modifier, typically describing a noun representing a value, quantity, or condition. It indicates that the noun it modifies remains relatively stable, permitting minor fluctuations. This aligns with Ludwig's assessment that the phrase is both correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

100%

Less common in

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "approximately constant" is a valuable tool for expressing relative stability, predominantly within scientific and technical fields. As Ludwig confirms, it is grammatically sound and widely used to indicate that a value or condition remains largely unchanged, with only minor fluctuations. For situations requiring absolute precision, alternatives like "exactly constant" may be more appropriate. Overall, "approximately constant" serves as a reliable descriptor when conveying near-invariance. When something is approximately constant, ensure that you specify the accepted variance to give readers a better understanding of how much change is still considered constant for your purposes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost constant

Indicates a state very close to being constant, with minimal variation.

nearly constant

Similar to 'almost constant', implying a slight deviation from perfect constancy.

virtually constant

Implies a constancy that is so close to perfect that the difference is negligible.

roughly constant

Suggests a less precise level of constancy, with more room for fluctuation.

approximately steady

Emphasizes a stable state over time, though not necessarily unchanging.

approximately consistent

Highlights the consistency of the subject/object to remain similar to itself and it's surrounding environment with only slight changes or deviations

largely invariant

Indicates a high degree of resistance to change or alteration, often in a technical context.

relatively stable

Suggests a stability compared to something else or a previous state. Meaning is subtly more broad

broadly unchanged

Signifies a lack of significant alteration or modification in a general sense.

substantially uniform

Implies a level of consistency and regularity, focusing on the lack of significant variation.

FAQs

What does "approximately constant" mean?

The phrase "approximately constant" means that a value, quantity, or condition remains relatively unchanged over a period of time or across different situations, though not perfectly so. It allows for minor variations or fluctuations.

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

You can use "approximately constant" to describe experimental conditions, statistical data, or any situation where a variable remains relatively stable. For example, "The temperature was maintained "approximately constant" during the experiment."

What are some alternatives to "approximately constant"?

Alternatives include "almost constant", "nearly constant", "roughly constant", or "relatively stable", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Each implies a slightly different degree of variation or stability.

Is it better to say "approximately constant" or "exactly constant"?

"Exactly constant" implies no variation whatsoever, while "approximately constant" acknowledges minor fluctuations. Use "approximately constant" when there are slight changes, and "exactly constant" only when the value truly never changes.