as an estimate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as an estimate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when providing an approximate value or figure in a discussion or report. Example: "The project will take, as an estimate, about three months to complete."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This is used as an estimate for the reference signal.

Expert Systems with Applications

He said: 'This statistic was never intended as an estimate of real risk.

The Guardian

As an estimate of the number of London estates as a whole in Adonis's Prospect piece.

The Guardian

Generally, only the disclosure for which the exact information is unknown is labeled as an estimate.

Cornell University

In ensemble forecasting, the ensemble spread is used as an estimate of the prediction uncertainty.

Nature

For each analysis, we calculated Cohen's d as an estimate of effect size.

Nature

One researcher took 1860's prices for slaves as an estimate of their labor value and applied compound interest.

The New York Times

So this won't work as an estimate tool going forward.

TechCrunch

After all, recall is often referred to as an estimate.

Forbes

This can be used as an estimate of efficiency.

BBC

This is used as an estimate of the noise floor.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "as an estimate", ensure the context clearly indicates that the figure provided is not exact and may be subject to change.

Common error

Avoid presenting a figure qualified by "as an estimate" as if it were a definitive or final value. Always ensure that the language around the estimate reflects its approximate nature.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as an estimate" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a statement by indicating it is an approximation. It serves to qualify the accuracy of the information presented, signaling that it should not be taken as a precise or definitive value. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is considered correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

67%

News & Media

24%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as an estimate" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to indicate that a value or figure is approximate. As Ludwig AI highlights, the expression is considered correct. It is most commonly found in scientific and news contexts, serving to qualify the accuracy of information and convey a sense of scale when precision is not feasible. When using this phrase, it's essential to maintain clarity and ensure the estimate is not mistaken for a precise value. Alternatives like "approximately" or "roughly" can be used for brevity. Remember to use "as an estimate" when offering a non-definitive figure and to clarify its approximate nature to the audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately

This alternative omits the "as an" and is a single word expressing a similar meaning.

an approximation

This alternative uses a noun form to convey a similar meaning of an inexact value.

roughly

This alternative is shorter and more informal, conveying a sense of imprecision.

about

This alternative is very concise and common in everyday language for approximations.

in the ballpark

This alternative is an idiom indicating a value that is close to the actual amount.

a rough calculation

This alternative emphasizes the calculation process being imprecise.

a guesstimate

This alternative is a portmanteau of guess and estimate, suggesting a less precise estimation.

a tentative figure

This alternative highlights the uncertainty and provisional nature of the number.

to hazard a guess

This alternative suggests making an estimate with limited information available.

by way of estimation

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes the process of estimating.

FAQs

How can I use "as an estimate" in a sentence?

You can use "as an estimate" to introduce an approximate value, such as: "The project will cost, as an estimate, $1 million." or "The repairs will take, as an estimate, about three weeks." The phrase typically precedes the approximate value.

What's the difference between "as an estimate" and "approximately"?

"As an estimate" is a longer phrase often used to introduce a preliminary figure, while "approximately" is a single word adverb that conveys a similar meaning but can be more concise. Both indicate that the value is not exact.

Is it better to say "as an estimate" or "in my estimation"?

"As an estimate" is used to qualify a specific value being presented, while "in my estimation" refers to a general judgment or opinion. For example, "As an estimate, the project will take six months," versus "In my estimation, the project is likely to succeed."

What are some alternatives to using "as an estimate" in a report?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "roughly", "approximately", or "about" to indicate that a figure is not precise. For example: "The cost is roughly $5000".