by approximately

USAGE SUMMARY

"by approximately" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to mean approximately or almost and to give a rough estimate of a number or length of time. Example sentence: We need to finish this project by approximately next Monday.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

He lost by approximately 4,000 votes.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"Early detection using mammography reduces mortality rates by approximately 20%.

The Guardian

The attacks were reduced by approximately ninety-five per cent.

The New Yorker

Younger voters favored Mr. Bush by approximately the same margin.

The New York Times

Similarly, Walmart used big data analytics to increase completed online sales by approximately 10-15%.

The Guardian

In his four years as mayor, London will grow by approximately the size of Bristol.

The Guardian - Opinion

Yesterday British Gas announced it will be increasing its prices by approximately 10%.

The Guardian

He added that lower fuel prices would reduce fuel costs by approximately £400 million.

The New York Times

Actual file-sharing, particularly via the decentralized Bittorrent, dropped by approximately zero.

The New York Times

Download time is approximately twelve minutes, and by "approximately" we mean probably an hour.

The New Yorker

After the project was funded, the graduation rate increased by approximately 20% between 2006 and 2013.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "by approximately" followed by a percentage, ensure the context clearly indicates whether it's an increase or decrease. For instance, specify 'increased by approximately 20%' or 'decreased by approximately 15%' for clarity.

Common error

While "by approximately" is acceptable in general writing, avoid overusing it in technical or scientific reports where precise data is expected. Opt for more specific terms like "estimated" or providing a range when possible to enhance credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by approximately" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifically quantifying the degree of approximation. It indicates that the number or value following it is not exact but is a close estimate, similar to what Ludwig AI reports.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

36%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "by approximately" is a versatile adverbial modifier used to express estimations and approximations. According to Ludwig AI, its usage is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts. With examples across diverse sources like news media, scientific journals, and encyclopedias, it demonstrates its widespread acceptance and utility in conveying non-exact figures or values. As shown by Ludwig, the phrase appears most frequently in News & Media and Science related domains, making it a common expression for providing estimations in numerous fields.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

roughly

This alternative is a single-word synonym emphasizing a lack of precision.

nearly

This alternative suggests a close but not exact value.

almost

This alternative indicates approaching a value or condition.

about

This alternative is a more casual way to express approximation.

around

Similar to "about", this alternative suggests a degree of imprecision.

in the neighborhood of

This alternative is a more descriptive way of indicating an approximate range.

in the vicinity of

This alternative suggests proximity to a certain value or quantity.

in the ballpark of

This alternative is an informal idiom for approximation.

give or take

This alternative introduces the idea of a possible slight deviation.

estimated to be

This alternative shifts the focus to the act of estimation rather than the approximation itself.

FAQs

How can I use "by approximately" in a sentence?

You can use "by approximately" to provide an estimate or an approximate value. For example, "The project's completion date is by approximately next quarter."

What are some alternatives to saying "by approximately"?

Alternatives include "roughly", "nearly", or "about". The choice depends on the context and the degree of precision you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "approximately by" instead of "by approximately"?

While understandable, "by approximately" is the more common and grammatically preferred order. "Approximately by" can sound awkward in most contexts.

Can I use "by approximately" with specific units of measurement?

Yes, you can use "by approximately" with units of measurement. For example, "The area increased by approximately 10 square meters."