at approximately the same speed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at approximately the same speed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the relative speeds of two or more objects or processes that are moving or occurring in a similar manner. Example: "The two cars were traveling at approximately the same speed, making it difficult to determine which one would reach the finish line first."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

The fish swam at approximately the same speed as the water rotated.

Aquacultural Engineering

A study found that rush-hour pedestrians on the avenue traveled at approximately the same speed as cars.

The New York Times

Particles in the disk, on the other hand, will all be moving the same way at approximately the same speed.

Cornell University

Moreover, Mironov et al.10 showed that two mammalian secretory cargoes, procollagen and the vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSV-G), travel through the Golgi at approximately the same speed.

Nature

When a train moves through the air, a region of air moves along with it at approximately the same speed: this region of air is known as the 'slipstream'slipstream

Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics

I remarked to my companions that, a hundred and fifteen years earlier, my paternal grandfather had made almost the reverse trip at approximately the same speed, except that he travelled steerage, from Antwerp to Philadelphia, whereas my cabin was next to the laundry room on the officers' floor ("Kilo of washing powder inside is not meaning of very clean clothes," a sign on the machine stated).

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

The ventricular perfusion rate was set to approximately the same speed as the CSF production rate, thereby expecting a 1 1 dilution of the applied inhibitors.

Nature

A resource reduction of 8.5% was achieved compared to the state-of-the-art while having approximately the same speed.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Over the course of many miles, all lanes will go approximately the same speed.

WikiHow

They are about the same distance from the planet and orbit at about the same speed.

Cornell University

Both guns fire at about the same speed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing the speeds of two processes or objects, ensure the context clearly indicates what is being measured. For instance, specify "at approximately the same speed in terms of data processing" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "at approximately the same speed" when a more precise term like "identical speed" is actually meant. If the speeds are nearly but not exactly equal, the approximation is necessary; otherwise, choose the more accurate description.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at approximately the same speed" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. It describes the manner in which an action is performed, specifying the velocity of the action in relation to another. Ludwig shows it frequently used across various contexts to compare speeds.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

34%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "at approximately the same speed" serves as an adverbial phrase used to compare the velocities of different actions or objects. According to Ludwig, this phrase is considered grammatically correct and finds application across a range of contexts, including science, news, and academia. This analysis highlights its role in establishing similarity while acknowledging a degree of variance. It is crucial to maintain accuracy when comparing speeds, avoiding overstatements, and to choose more precise language if the speeds are truly identical.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

moving at roughly the same pace

Replaces "speed" with "pace" and "approximately" with "roughly", slightly altering the tone while preserving the meaning.

traveling at nearly the same velocity

Substitutes "approximately" with "nearly" and "speed" with "velocity", providing a more technical alternative.

proceeding at about the same rate

Replaces "speed" with "rate" and "approximately" with "about", offering a subtly different phrasing.

advancing at virtually the same pace

Replaces "approximately" with "virtually" and "speed" with "pace", suggesting a very close similarity in speed.

progressing at close to the same speed

Rephrases "approximately" as "close to", maintaining a similar level of precision.

operating at a similar speed

Uses "similar" to convey the approximation aspect, making it slightly less precise.

functioning at a comparable speed

Replaces "same" with "comparable", focusing on the similarity rather than the near-identity.

working at a matching speed

Emphasizes that speeds are matched, subtly shifting the meaning.

running neck and neck

Idiomatic expression that refers to a close race where competitors are nearly at the same speed.

keeping pace with each other

Highlights maintaining similar speeds relative to one another, introducing a relational aspect.

FAQs

How can I use "at approximately the same speed" in a sentence?

You can use "at approximately the same speed" to compare the velocities of two or more objects or processes, like "The two cars were traveling "at approximately the same speed" on the highway".

What is a good alternative to "at approximately the same speed"?

Alternatives include "moving at roughly the same pace" or "traveling at nearly the same velocity", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "at approximately the same speed"?

Use "at approximately the same speed" when you want to indicate that two or more things are moving or progressing at speeds that are very close, but not necessarily identical.

What's the difference between "at the same speed" and "at approximately the same speed"?

"At the same speed" implies identical velocities, whereas "at approximately the same speed" suggests a slight variation is acceptable or expected. The addition of "approximately" allows for a margin of error.