approximately correct

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "approximately correct" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that something is close to being accurate but not exact. Example: "The estimated population of the city is approximately correct, but we should verify the latest census data."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What is more relevant is whether or not the logistic regression model is approximately correct and to make the notion of approximation precise one has to specify a δ.

Journal of Statistical Distributions and Applications

Brazil's foreign relations minister, Luiz Felipe Lampreia, said today that the figure was "approximately" correct.

The New York Times

Asked by Vaz if 1% of the files had been published, the editor replied: "That's approximately correct.

The Guardian

Those numbers are approximately correct for someone who is reaching 65 this year, with the payments increasing 6percentt for each year deferred.

The New York Times

"Probably Approximately Correct," Dr. Valiant's winsome title, is his quantitative framework for understanding how these ecorithms work.

The New York Times - Science

The evidence from such situations shows that systematic success is dependent on forming approximately correct hypotheses about the hidden things.

Encyclopedia Britannica

If that estimate is even approximately correct it would render the vast majority of reserves "stranded" – oil, gas and coal that will be literally unusable without expensive carbon-capture technology, which itself alters fossil fuel economics.

The Guardian

If that figure for bureaucracy is even approximately correct, the IoD is right to question how businesses are supposed to get more out of a levy than they put in, which is Osborne's boast.

The Guardian - Business

In almost all branches of mathematical physics there are systematic procedures namely, perturbation techniques for adjusting approximately correct models so that they represent the real situation more closely.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Dr Murphy and his colleagues hope that even more precise measurements could ultimately show general relativity to be only approximately correct.

The Economist

In this paper Valiant introduced the "probably approximately correct" (PAC) model, in which an algorithm posits a hypothesis based on some data set and applies that hypothesis to future data.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "approximately correct" when you need to convey that something is not perfectly accurate, but close enough for the intended purpose. It strikes a balance between precision and practicality.

Common error

Avoid using "approximately correct" when you are certain about the accuracy of the information. Reserve it for situations where a degree of uncertainty or estimation is involved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "approximately correct" functions as an adjectival modifier, qualifying a noun by indicating a degree of accuracy that is less than perfect but still acceptable or useful. According to Ludwig, this usage is grammatically sound and widely accepted.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

47%

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "approximately correct" is a grammatically sound and versatile adjectival phrase used to describe something that is not perfectly accurate but close enough for practical purposes. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage spans across various contexts, including science, news, and encyclopedias. It's crucial to reserve this phrase for situations involving estimation or uncertainty, avoiding it when precise accuracy is known. Related phrases like ""roughly accurate"" and ""nearly accurate"" offer similar meanings, allowing for nuanced expression. When writing, remember to focus on conveying the acceptable degree of accuracy for the given context. This phrase balances precision and practicality, making it valuable in many situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

close to correct

A more descriptive alternative that explicitly states proximity to correctness.

generally accurate

Indicates that the statement is mostly correct, with possible minor inaccuracies.

nearly accurate

Suggests a close proximity to being completely accurate.

reasonably accurate

Highlights the acceptable level of accuracy for a specific purpose.

fairly accurate

Similar to "reasonably accurate", indicating a good but not perfect level of precision.

roughly accurate

Implies a lesser degree of precision compared to "approximately correct".

almost exact

Emphasizes the high degree of accuracy, bordering on being exact.

practically correct

Suggests that while not perfectly accurate, it is sufficient for practical purposes.

approximates the truth

Focuses on the relationship to the actual truth, rather than numerical accuracy.

in the right ballpark

An idiomatic expression indicating a value or estimate is generally correct.

FAQs

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

You can use "approximately correct" to describe estimations, models, or data that are not perfectly accurate but are still useful or valid within a certain margin of error. For example, "The model provides an "approximately correct" prediction of the outcome".

What is a good alternative to "approximately correct"?

Alternatives include "roughly accurate", "nearly accurate", or "close to correct". The best choice depends on the specific context and the degree of precision you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "approximately correct" in formal writing?

Yes, "approximately correct" is appropriate for formal writing, especially in scientific, technical, or business contexts where estimations or models are used. However, be sure to provide sufficient context and justification for any approximations made.

What does "probably approximately correct" (PAC) learning mean?

"Probably "approximately correct"" (PAC) learning is a framework in machine learning where an algorithm learns a concept with a high probability of being approximately correct. It provides a theoretical foundation for understanding the learnability of different concepts.