are approximately equally

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are approximately equally" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing quantities, values, or characteristics that are similar or comparable in degree or amount. Example: "The two teams are approximately equally skilled, making the match highly competitive."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Even interpreting it as an approximation, it is unlikely that someone believes some range of values are approximately equally likely, but a value slightly outside that range is (approximately) impossible.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Leptosols are approximately equally distributed among high mountain areas, deserts, and boreal or polar regions, where soil formation is limited by severe climatic conditions.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Astrocytomas of the optic chiasm and hypothalamus make up 10%to15%15 % of supratentorial tumours in children; males and females are approximately equally affected.

Insights into Imaging

Of the 168 landraces from India that are not part of the Assam Rice Collection, aus-1 and aus-2 are approximately equally represented (32 aus-1, 28 aus-2 and 38 aus-admix).

Rice

The buriedness-index is calculated by investigating the molecular environment of a grid probe in an elaborate scanning process: Scans are being performed along 30 directions that are approximately equally distributed around a grid probe.

Chemistry Central Journal

From this observation, it follows that signals with tonal components that are approximately equally distributed in the Nyquist interval can be better represented with an all-pole model than signals that have their tonal components concentrated in a selected region of the Nyquist interval.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

The included 7,900 students were approximately equally divided across grade levels (see Table  1).

International Journal of STEM Education

One observation is that the bound is approximately equally good within the area where the sensor nodes are placed.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

These values mean that the mostly present fractal dimension is approximately equally probable for all 3D video representation formats.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

The data suggest that the total 4670 km stream network was approximately equally divided between defined channels (28% perennial and 17% intermittent) and undefined channels (55% ephemeral).

Forest Ecology and Management

These two distinct behaviours were approximately equally distributed along the rainy season and strongly driven by the extent of coupling between surface and subsurface water.

CATENA

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing distributions or proportions, use "are approximately equally" to indicate a similarity that doesn't require precise mathematical equality. This is particularly useful in scientific and statistical reporting where perfect equality is rare.

Common error

Avoid using "are approximately equally" when the quantities or values are known to be significantly different. This phrase implies a level of similarity that should be supported by evidence or reasonable estimation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are approximately equally" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, indicating the degree to which two or more entities share a similar attribute or quantity. Ludwig provides examples showcasing its use in scientific and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

85%

Encyclopedias

9%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

News & Media

0%

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are approximately equally" is a grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to express that two or more things share a similar attribute or quantity without being exactly the same. As confirmed by Ludwig, its usage is most common in scientific and academic contexts, lending a neutral to formal tone to writing. While direct equality isn't stated, it implies a meaningful level of similarity. Ludwig's examples show the phrase is versatile, appearing across scientific journals and encyclopedias. When writing, remember that using this phrase requires quantities to be similar and not significantly different.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are nearly equal

Replaces "approximately" with "nearly", suggesting a slightly higher degree of closeness.

are roughly equivalent

Substitutes "approximately equally" with "roughly equivalent", implying a general similarity rather than precise equality.

are more or less equal

Uses "more or less" to convey approximate equality, adding a touch of informality.

are about the same

Replaces the formal "approximately equally" with the more casual "about the same".

are of comparable magnitude

Uses "comparable magnitude" to denote approximate equality in a quantitative sense.

are in the same ballpark

Employs the idiom "in the same ballpark" to express approximate equality, suitable for informal contexts.

are practically identical

Replaces "approximately" with "practically", suggesting a very high degree of similarity, close to being the same.

are virtually indistinguishable

Indicates that the items being compared are so similar as to be hard to tell apart.

are close in value

Focuses on the similarity in numerical value between the items being compared.

are on par with each other

Uses the idiom "on par with each other" to suggest comparable standing or level.

FAQs

How can I use "are approximately equally" in a sentence?

Use "are approximately equally" to indicate that two or more things have a similar quantity, value, or characteristic. For example, "The two candidates "are approximately equally" qualified for the position".

What are some alternatives to "are approximately equally"?

Alternatives include phrases like "are nearly equal", "are roughly equivalent", or "are about the same", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "is approximately equally"?

No, the correct form is "are approximately equally" when referring to multiple subjects. "Is approximately equally" would only be correct if referring to a single subject that has been divided into multiple, near-equal portions, which is a less common usage.

What's the difference between "are approximately equally" and "are exactly equal"?

"Are approximately equally" indicates a similarity, but not a perfect match. "Are exactly equal" means the quantities or values are identical. Use ""are approximately equally"" when precision is not required or not possible.