approximates to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "approximates to" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means to come close to or resemble something, but not be an exact match. Example: The child's drawing approximates to a picture of a house, but it has some inaccuracies. In this sentence, the word "approximates" is used to indicate that the drawing is similar to a house, but not an exact representation of one.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Such high radiation exposure approximates to that of Japanese women living approximately one mile away from the site of the Hiroshima atom bomb explosion.

Huffington Post

This approximates to an improvement of peripheral visualisation in approximately 2 of the 4 quadrants examined for each case.

BMC Ophthalmology

CSHP starts up quickly in approximately 15 seconds and the quickest stopping time of CSHP approximates to 80 seconds.

Applied Thermal Engineering

It's a great skill, creating an experience that approximates to a proper family life".

Independent

Morgan, after a little reconnaissance (which approximates to three dots in T20 cricket), struck the ball with awesome, wristy power.

The Guardian - Sport

Give me journalism for that any day – at least journalism that approximates to the writing of a journal.

The Guardian - Books

Davydenko barely approximates to the top-five competitor he was, which somehow makes Murray's display even more substantial.

Independent

The Germans have only fairly recently extricated themselves from enslavement (for such it seems) to the Fraktur script that approximates to black-letter prints.

The Guardian - Books

Kaufman is a fictional character, but approximates to Juval Aviv, who claims to have been a similarly-tasked agent in the 1970s.

The Guardian - Film

The impact of LCA approximates to that of LC A+TCA and the impact of TCA approximates to that of normal level of higher-order aberrations and is negligible.

Optics Communications

The prior one says it is obvious that occupancy approximates to zero whether the average speed of vehicles approximates to infinity in flow traffic condition or not.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "approximates to", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being approximated. For instance, "The model's prediction approximates to the actual outcome, but there are minor discrepancies."

Common error

Avoid using "approximates to" when a higher degree of precision is required. If accuracy is paramount, use more precise language, such as "equals", "is exactly", or "matches".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "approximates to" functions as a verb phrase indicating that something closely resembles or nears a particular value, state, or condition, but is not exactly the same. As Ludwig AI points out, it's used to show similarity without claiming precise equivalence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

61%

News & Media

23%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "approximates to" is a versatile phrase used to indicate similarity or nearness, but not exactness. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly found in both science and news contexts. While highly prevalent, it's important to understand that "approximates to" serves to convey an estimate or resemblance and must be used cautiously when precision is paramount. When exactness is needed, synonyms like "equals" or "is equivalent to" should be preferred. Its common usage makes it helpful in providing a level of clarity without misleading claims of absolute identity or precise measurement. Using it in the correct context improves the understanding and clarity of the text.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is similar to

This alternative uses a simpler structure focusing on general similarity.

is close to

This alternative highlights proximity or nearness in value or characteristic.

resembles

This single-word alternative conveys a visual or qualitative similarity.

is analogous to

This suggests a parallel or correspondence in some respects.

is comparable to

This alternative indicates a suitability for comparison, implying shared features.

approaches

Focuses on the act of getting closer to a certain value or state.

is roughly equivalent to

Indicates an approximate equivalence, allowing for some deviation.

is in the vicinity of

Suggests a location or value that is near the specified point.

borders on

Implies that something is very close to being something else, maybe crossing a threshold.

mirrors

Implies a strong resemblance or reflection of something else.

FAQs

How can I use "approximates to" in a sentence?

Use "approximates to" when you want to indicate that something is similar or close to something else, but not exactly the same. For example, "The cost of the project approximates to $1 million".

What can I say instead of "approximates to"?

You can use alternatives like "is similar to", "is close to", or "resembles" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "approximates to" and "equals"?

"Approximates to" indicates a similarity or close value, while "equals" signifies an exact match. Use "approximates to" when the values are not precisely the same but are near enough for the purpose at hand.

When is it inappropriate to use "approximates to"?

Avoid using "approximates to" in contexts where precise measurements or exact figures are crucial. In such cases, use more accurate terms like "equals", "is equivalent to", or provide the exact figures.