as an approximate measure of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as an approximate measure of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a method or metric that provides a rough estimation rather than an exact value. Example: "The data was analyzed as an approximate measure of the overall performance of the system."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

The clearance of creatinine was used as a measure of renal function before inulin was discovered; because this substance is found naturally in plasma, creatinine clearance is still widely used as an approximate measure of the GFR.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The robustness of a solution of the design problem is computed as an approximate measure of what will be saved or lost if the environment becomes the unexpected.

European Journal of Operational Research

The quantified values serve as an approximate measure of the degree of pressure each sub-criterion expresses for lawmakers to regulate in a given way.

Environmental Sciences Europe

We take the proportion of trees voting that a given molecule should be classified as active as an approximate measure of the probability of the molecule being active.

Chemistry Central Journal

The reciprocal of the dominant frequency component (1/dominant frequency) converts this to seconds and can be used as an approximate measure of participant's modal time before changing direction; (2) Dividing participant's overall search time by the modal time before changing direction gives an estimate of the number of changes of direction.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

Thus, we used signal-to-noise ratio only as an approximate measure of the impact of L2-R feedback on neural coding by comparing these estimates in the test and control R-LMC-R systems.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

The methane-to-propane (C1/C3) ratio was employed as to provide an approximate measure of the activity of the metal function vs. acidic function, and is used in many industrial processes to follow the balance between activities of both functions.

Applied Petrochemical Research

Furthermore, the Bhattacharyya coefficient is an approximate measure of the amount of overlapping between two distributions and as such can be used to determine their relative closeness.

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

The measure of practical salinity was originally developed to provide an approximate measure of the total mass of salt in one kilogram of seawater.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Comparing the relative titers of inhibitory activity provides an approximate measure of binding proximity.

eLife

Δeff is an approximate measure of the average interspin distance for broad P R) values.

Biochemistry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "as an approximate measure of", ensure the context clarifies the limitations and potential inaccuracies of the measurement. It's crucial to avoid implying a higher degree of precision than warranted.

Common error

Avoid using "as an approximate measure of" when a precise measurement is available or necessary. Over-reliance on approximations can lead to flawed conclusions and undermine the credibility of your analysis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as an approximate measure of" functions as an adverbial phrase that modifies a verb or clause, indicating that something is being used not as a precise value, but rather as a rough indication. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

85%

Encyclopedias

7%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

News & Media

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "as an approximate measure of" is a useful tool for qualifying statements when dealing with estimations rather than precise values. As Ludwig AI validates, the expression is grammatically correct and sees frequent use, particularly within scientific and technical fields. When employing this phrase, remember to clarify the limitations of the approximation to avoid misleading interpretations. Alternatives include "as a rough estimate of" or "as a general indicator of". While common, ensure precision isn't sacrificed unnecessarily. Understanding the contexts, such as Science and encyclopedias, where this phrase is most often employed helps refine its appropriate use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as a rough estimate of

Focuses on the inexact nature of the estimation, suggesting a lack of precision.

as a loose approximation of

Stresses that the measure isn't very precise.

as a general indicator of

Highlights the use of something to provide a broad idea, not necessarily quantified.

as a crude measure of

Highlights the simplicity and potential inaccuracy of the measurement.

as a heuristic for

Implies a rule of thumb used for problem-solving, less about direct measurement.

as a proxy for

Suggests substituting one easily measured variable for a harder to measure one.

as a working estimate of

Suggests that the measure is being used for practical purposes, possibly subject to revision.

as a ballpark figure for

Emphasizes the very approximate nature, like a preliminary estimate.

as a tentative gauge of

Indicates that the measure is provisional and not definitive.

as a basic yardstick for

Compares the measure to a standard or benchmark, implying a relative assessment.

FAQs

How can I use "as an approximate measure of" in a sentence?

Use "as an approximate measure of" to indicate that a particular metric or method provides a rough or inexact estimation. For example, "Creatinine clearance was used "as an approximate measure of" renal function".

What are some alternatives to "as an approximate measure of"?

You can use alternatives like "as a rough estimate of", "as a general indicator of", or "as a proxy for" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "as an approximate measure of"?

It's appropriate to use "as an approximate measure of" when you're acknowledging that the measurement or method you're using isn't perfectly precise but still provides a useful indication. It's common in situations where precise data is unavailable or difficult to obtain.

What should I avoid when using "as an approximate measure of"?

Avoid using "as an approximate measure of" when precision is critical or when you have access to more accurate data. Also, be sure to clearly state the limitations of the approximate measure to avoid misleading interpretations.