approximately noon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "approximately noon" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating a time that is close to noon but not exact, often in schedules or informal contexts. Example: "The meeting is scheduled for approximately noon, so please arrive a little earlier."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

On Wednesday at approximately noon in Port Elizabeth, Carter fired up the mower but still left a thin layer of grass on top for the contest, which begins at 7.30pm AEDT on Thursday.

The Guardian - Sport

A typical diurnal profile for EEJ shows a peak strength of EEJ at time of approximately noon (i.e., Chandrasekhar et al. (2014)).

Earth, Planets and Space

Because of an upgrade to the Proven printing system, Web Printing and Add Value Online will be unavailable from 5 p.m. Sunday, March 20 through approximately noon, Tuesday, March 22.

University of Chicago

There will be a crane set up on brick pavers between Malone Hall and Shriver Hall from 7 a.m. to approximately noon on Saturday, Dec. 8, to remove materials from Shriver Hall's high roof.

Johns Hopkins University

Results should be posted by approximately noon on Sunday.

Los Angeles Times

Mr. Kunstler: Now Miss Collins [on] March 17 of 1968 at approximately noon...do you know where you were?

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Each class last approximately 1 hour.

Cornell University

This appointment lasts approximately 1 hour.

Stanford University

Altogether this training session takes approximately 1 hour.

Harvard University

Approximately 3 months later (T2), 50% of patients responded to these same questionnaires.

European Journal of Pain

The object was briefly sighted approximately an hour later near the back gate.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "approximately noon" when you want to indicate a time that is near midday but not perfectly exact. It adds a level of informality while still providing a clear timeframe.

Common error

Avoid pairing "approximately noon" with highly precise details that contradict the approximation. For example, don't say "approximately noon, 12:03 pm".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "approximately noon" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, specifying the time at which an action occurs. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is usable in written English. It's a way of communicating a timeframe that is not perfectly precise but falls close to the midday mark.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

30%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "approximately noon" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase for indicating a timeframe close to midday. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and appropriateness across various contexts. While not as frequent as simpler alternatives like "around noon", it strikes a balance between formality and informality. Use it when precision isn't crucial and you want to convey an estimated time near 12:00 pm. It appears across various categories such as News & Media, Science and Academia. When writing, avoid overly precise language that contradicts the approximation conveyed by the phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

around midday

Substitutes "noon" with "midday", keeping the approximate time reference but with a slight difference in word choice.

about 12 pm

Replaces "approximately noon" with a numerical time, maintaining the approximate aspect using "about".

close to noon

Uses "close to" instead of "approximately", offering a more direct and simple way to express the nearness to midday.

near noontime

Replaces "noon" with "noontime", adding a slightly more descriptive feel while maintaining the approximation.

in the vicinity of noon

Uses a more formal and descriptive expression to indicate a time near noon.

at midday roughly

Rearranges the words and uses "roughly" to convey approximation, providing a different stylistic choice.

at or around 12:00 pm

Offers a more precise yet still approximate time, using both "at" and "around" for emphasis.

something before or after noon

Provides a more conversational and less precise way to indicate a time near noon.

plus or minus noon

Uses a mathematical term to give an indication of the time that is not precisely midday.

give or take noon

Uses an idiomatic expression to indicate that the time is near noon but not necessarily exact.

FAQs

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

You can use "approximately noon" to indicate a time close to midday without being exact. For example, "The event will begin at approximately noon."

What are some alternatives to saying "approximately noon"?

Alternatives include "around midday", "about 12 pm", or "close to noon". Consider the context when choosing the most suitable option.

Is it more formal to say "approximately noon" or "around noon"?

"Approximately noon" is slightly more formal than "around noon", but both are generally acceptable in most contexts. The choice depends on the overall tone of your writing.

What's the difference between "approximately noon" and saying "at noon"?

"At noon" indicates an exact time, while "approximately noon" suggests a time near midday but not perfectly precise.