determine approximately

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "determine approximately" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when you want to express the idea of finding an estimate or rough calculation of something. Example: "We need to determine approximately how much time the project will take." Alternative expressions include "estimate roughly" and "calculate roughly."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Time-of-flight (TOF -PET goes one sTOF -PETher, and we try to determine approximately the position of annihilation alongoese line oneannihilation (Fig. 1) ustep the measured difurthere in andival times.

EJNMMI Physics

Before the game begins, the player must perform a Brain Age Check to determine their brain age, which ranges from 20 to 80, to determine approximately their brain's responsiveness.

Wikipedia

In Europe HAIs cause 16 million extra days of hospital stay and 37000 attributable deaths; they determine approximately costs associated of €7 billionn annually.

BioMed Research International

To determine approximately the ability of methods to disentangle closely positioned QTL, we estimated a measure of redundancy for each method along the chromosome, which was based on the equivalent number of independent tests using Geyer's [ 4] effective sample size.

Genetics, Selection, Evolution

To validate the Kiss data obtained from IHC, and to determine approximately how early in development significant effects are discernable, a second set of animals was exposed and used to quantify Kiss1 mRNA levels.

Biology of Sex Differences

Birth attendants can be trained to use illustrations on posters to assess the degree of maceration and determine approximately when fetal death occurred, but international standards for verbal autopsy for unattended home deliveries resulting in stillbirth are lacking [ 79].

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

As the son of a Costa Rican mother and a white American father, Mr. Jeffreys grew up keenly aware of the tiny visual cues people search for in determining approximately who a person is.

The New York Times

That system, managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, assisted in determining approximately when and where the water would breach its banks and thus enabled state officials to shore up existing structures and evacuate residents.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The coordinates of the reflection points are also determined approximately.

Earth, Planets and Space

Thus the value of χ i can be determined approximately.

Nanoscale Research Letters

All endpoints were determined approximately 20 h post-exposure to phosgene.

Clinical and Translational Medicine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In scientific writing, follow this phrase with the specific margin of error or the method used to ensure the reader understands the degree of approximation.

Common error

Do not use "determine approximately" when referring to exact constants or integer counts that cannot be fractional. For instance, stating one will "determine approximately the number of people in the room" is acceptable if it's a large crowd, but "determine approximately the number of suns in our solar system" is logically flawed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "determine approximately" functions as a modified transitive verb phrase. It combines the active verb "determine", which suggests a definitive discovery or decision, with the softening adverb "approximately". In the examples provided by Ludwig, it frequently precedes a noun clause starting with "how", "when" or "where".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

75%

Wiki

15%

News & Media

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "determine approximately" is a robust and highly useful tool in English writing, particularly within Scientific and Technical contexts. It successfully bridges the gap between the certainty of "determining" and the reality of imprecise data. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is most commonly found in research papers to describe methodologies where exact measurements are impossible or unnecessary. While it is perfectly acceptable in News & Media or Wiki guides, writers should ensure that the context warrants an estimation rather than a definitive count. Using this phrase adds a layer of professional nuance to your writing by acknowledging the boundaries of your findings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

estimate roughly

Places more emphasis on the act of guessing than the act of formal determination

calculate approximately

Suggests a mathematical process is involved in reaching the estimate

gauge roughly

Often used for physical measurements or sensing a general trend

assess roughly

Implies a qualitative judgment rather than a purely quantitative one

approximate the value

Uses 'approximate' as a verb, focusing directly on the result

quantify roughly

Specific to assigning a numerical value to a quantity

measure approximately

Best used when physical tools or scales are employed

evaluate approximately

Suggests a broader review of evidence to reach a conclusion

derive approximately

Indicates that the estimate was pulled from other known data points

ascertain approximately

A more formal and rare alternative to 'determine'

FAQs

How do I use "determine approximately" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a process of estimation, such as: "We used the map to "determine approximately" how far we had to walk."

Is "determine approximately" grammatically correct?

Yes, it is a standard verb-adverb construction. According to Ludwig AI, it is frequently used in scientific research to qualify findings that are estimates.

What is the difference between "determine approximately" and "estimate"?

While often interchangeable, "determine approximately" suggests a more rigorous or active investigation than simple "estimation", which can sometimes be perceived as a mere guess.

Can I say "approximately determine" instead?

Yes, "approximately determine" is also correct, though placing the adverb after the verb is more common in formal scientific literature.