approximately double

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "approximately double" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to indicate that a quantity is roughly twice as much as another quantity, without being exact. Example: "The population of the city has approximately doubled over the last decade."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In context, that's half of what CBS ($13.8bn) makes today, and approximately double ITV's revenues (£1.8bn).

The Guardian

The capacities obtained were approximately double that of anhydrous MoO3.

Electrochimica Acta

Without these sinks, global warming would have proceeded at approximately double speed2.

Nature

All the economists can say is that sales approximately double every time the rank is cut in half.

The New York Times

While this dropped substantially in 2013, down to roughly 10%, it was approximately double that in 2010.

The Guardian - Opinion

It forecast "average sales value per vehicle to approximately double for those engines requiring additional particulate control".

The Guardian - Business

Cyclin-D1 gene expression in the stimulated marrow was approximately double that of the controls.

Bone

All methacrylate-terminated products were approximately double the molar masses anticipated based on reagent loadings.

Materials Today Communications

It is approximately double for SmCo5 alloy than the Nd Fe B in the acidic environments.

Journal of Alloys and Compounds

It was reported that mood disturbances appeared to approximately double an individual's risk of subsequent PD in a meta-analysis36.

Nature

The number of visas available would approximately double from the current limit of 65,000 per year.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing for a technical audience, consider including specific data or ranges alongside the phrase "approximately double" to provide additional context and clarity. For example, "The reaction rate approximately doubled, increasing from 0.5 to 1.1 mol/L/s."

Common error

Avoid using "approximately double" when you have exact figures. If you know the precise values, state them directly instead of using an approximation, which can undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "approximately double" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the degree to which something has increased. Ludwig provides examples across various domains, demonstrating its broad applicability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

54%

News & Media

34%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "approximately double" is a versatile and grammatically sound way to express that a quantity has roughly doubled. As Ludwig's examples show, it is commonly used in scientific, news, and business contexts to convey estimation of increase. While the expression is generally deemed correct, it's crucial to avoid using it when precise numbers are available, which could weaken your credibility. Using alternatives like "roughly twice" or "nearly double", depending on the tone you would like to have, may also be suitable. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness and wide applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

roughly twice

Uses a different adverb to indicate an approximate doubling, focusing on the multiplier.

about twice

Replaces "approximately" with a more informal "about", maintaining the core meaning.

nearly double

Substitutes "approximately" with "nearly", suggesting the value is close to but not exactly double.

almost twice as much

Emphasizes the amount being doubled with a slight shift in phrasing.

in the neighborhood of double

Uses an idiomatic expression to indicate an approximate doubling.

close to a twofold increase

Rephrases as an increase and uses the term "twofold" for doubling.

around 200 percent

Expresses the doubling as a percentage increase.

increased by a factor of two

Focuses on the multiplicative factor of the increase.

increased twofold

A more formal way of saying "increased by a factor of two".

markedly higher

A simple way to say that something is around double the size but without giving an exact number

FAQs

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

You can use "approximately double" to indicate that a quantity is roughly twice the size of another. For example, "The company's profits approximately doubled this year."

What can I say instead of "approximately double"?

You can use alternatives like "roughly twice", "about twice", or "nearly double" depending on the context.

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

Yes, "approximately double" is suitable for formal writing, but ensure it aligns with the overall tone and precision required. If exact figures are known, stating them is preferable. You can also opt for alternatives that are more formal, such as "increased twofold".

When should I avoid using "approximately double"?

Avoid using "approximately double" when precision is critical, or when the difference is significantly more or less than double. In such cases, provide the exact figures or a more accurate description of the change.