approximately safe

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "approximately safe" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a level of safety that is not absolute but is considered to be reasonably secure or low-risk. Example: "The area is approximately safe for hiking, but it's advisable to stay alert for any potential hazards."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Whether that is true is hard for reporters to gauge, considering that the only approximately safe way to venture into the towns is with a heavily armed Marine foot patrol.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Your credit cards are approximately as safe in the wild as your cash.

TechCrunch

In public interest, we urgently need new phase III clinical trials of disulfiram in breast cancer patients to repurpose the cheap (1-year long therapy costs approximately US$550) and safe drug for breast cancer (Cvek, 2012).

British Journal of Cancer

The solution to prevent doping and render an even field is to keep medicating veterinarians away from horses in the days before they race, as is the policy in Europe and Asia, where racing is approximately four times safer than in America.

The New York Times

Once we get to the point where Autopilot is approximately 10 times safer than the US vehicle average, the beta label will be removed".

TechCrunch

Advantages of double-contrast barium enema compared with colonoscopy are that it is safer (approximately one perforation in 25 000 procedures)[ 38], less expensive, and does not require sedation.

Cancer Imaging

Hence, individuals need to perceive the vaccine to be approximately 50 times safer than the disease before they will chose to vaccinate.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Its advantages compared to colonoscopy are that it is safer (approximately 1 perforation in 25000 procedures) [ 63], less expensive, and does not require sedation.

Cancer Imaging

The Easter Weekend raid, in which thieves made off with "approximately 60 to 70" safe deposit boxes according to Scotland Yard, has drawn intense media interest with estimates for the total value of the haul spiralling to £200 million.

Independent

We find that any kind of eclipsing is safe beyond approximately 2.5 au distance, but for terrestrial planets safety depends on the parameters of the orbit.

Acta Astronautica

The Satelec device without cooling induces the highest temperature change of up to 13°C, particularly in both bone level implants (p < 0.05) but appears safe for approximately 10 s of continuous instrumentation, after which a cooling down period is rational.

International Journal of Implant Dentistry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "approximately safe", ensure the context clarifies what specific risks or uncertainties remain. Be precise about the limitations of the safety being described.

Common error

Avoid using "approximately safe" when describing situations with significant or unknown risks. Overstating safety can lead to complacency and potential harm.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "approximately safe" primarily functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun to indicate a qualified level of safety. It suggests that something is generally secure, but not entirely without risk, as supported by Ludwig AI's analysis.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "approximately safe" is used to describe situations or items that are generally secure but not entirely risk-free. It's grammatically correct and found in a variety of contexts, from news to scientific articles. When using this phrase, clarity is key: specify what remaining risks exist. According to Ludwig, it conveys a cautious assessment of safety, acknowledging potential dangers while indicating a reasonable degree of security. Alternatives include "relatively safe" or "reasonably safe", which can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reasonably safe

Suggests a level of safety that is acceptable under the circumstances, though not guaranteed.

mostly safe

Indicates that the majority of the time or in most cases, it is safe.

relatively secure

Indicates a state of security that is not absolute but better than average.

largely safe

Implies that safety prevails in most aspects or areas.

fairly safe

Indicates a good level of safety, though potential risks may still exist.

generally secure

Suggests that overall conditions are secure, though exceptions may occur.

moderately secure

Implies a level of security that is neither highly secure nor completely insecure.

somewhat secure

Implies a limited degree of security, possibly with vulnerabilities.

conditionally safe

The safety is dependent on specific conditions being met.

almost risk-free

Indicates that there are still risks, but very minimal.

FAQs

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

You can use "approximately safe" to describe situations where safety is not guaranteed but reasonably assured. For example, "The area is "approximately safe" for hiking, but stay alert for hazards."

What are some alternatives to "approximately safe"?

Alternatives include "relatively safe", "reasonably safe", or "fairly safe", depending on the specific context and level of assurance you want to convey.

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

Yes, "approximately safe" is acceptable in formal writing, especially when providing a nuanced assessment of risk. However, be sure to provide enough context to clarify the extent and limitations of the safety being discussed.

What's the difference between "approximately safe" and "completely safe"?

"Approximately safe" indicates that there may still be some risks involved, whereas "completely safe" implies no risks at all. Using "approximately safe" acknowledges the possibility of unforeseen circumstances or residual dangers.