estimate

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "estimate" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it when roughly calculating or assigning a value to something, and you want to express that the calculation is not exact. For example, "The estimated cost of the project is $1,000."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Government figures estimate benefit fraud due to identity theft at between £20-£50m £20-£50mm, a fraction of the LSE's low cost estimate for the scheme of £10bn.

The Guardian - Opinion

As a result, we estimate that around one quarter of graduates on the lowest incomes will actually pay back less than under the current system.

The Guardian

The first-ever attempt by US record-keepers to estimate the number of uncounted "law enforcement homicides" exposed previous official tallies as capturing less than half of the real picture.

The Guardian

By adding together the household wealth of each household they are then able to provide an estimate of total household wealth in Britain.

The Guardian

Previous estimates put the amount of heat accumulated by the world's oceans over the past decade equivalent to about 4 Hiroshima atomic bomb detonations per second, on average, but Trenberth's research puts the estimate equivalent to more than 6 detonations per second.

The Guardian

Wikipedia claims a collective total of something like £50m at a conservative estimate".

The Guardian - Sport

– live Q&A A conservative estimate would place the number of Syrians being held in Syria's prisons at 150,000, Ghadbian added, but this number could be as high as 230,000.

The Guardian

Industry tracker boxofficemojo.com estimate that The Interview made $40m in digital sales and $6.7m in cinemas worldwide.

The Guardian

The point is they have no business to be there Several hundred South African mercenaries are still active, according to one estimate, despite the threat of criminal prosecution back home.

The Guardian

According to Griffin, California's old blue oaks are as close to nature's rain gauges as we get The study compared today's drought conditions in California to those reconstructed over the past 1,200 years using the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI), an estimate of available soil moisture.

The Guardian

The best estimate of how many gamers are "pathological" about the way they play is just 3%, according to a 2011 meta-analysis of 33 studies.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "estimate" in formal writing, clearly state the basis of your estimation to enhance credibility. For example, specify the data, methodology, or sources used to arrive at the figure.

Common error

Avoid presenting an "estimate" as a definitive value. Use qualifying language like 'approximately', 'around', or 'in the range of' to maintain accuracy and transparency.

Linguistic Context

The word "estimate" functions as both a verb, meaning to form an approximate judgment or calculation, and a noun, referring to the approximate judgment or calculation itself. Ludwig AI indicates its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "estimate" functions as both a verb and a noun, signifying an approximate calculation or judgment. According to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and widely used. Primarily appearing in news and media contexts, as well as science and formal business settings. When writing, it's important to avoid overstating the accuracy of an "estimate", and be clear to what information you are basing the "estimate" on. Synonyms such as "approximate", "gauge", and "assess" offer nuanced alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximate

Focuses on finding a value that is close to the correct one, often used when precision is not critical.

gauge

Implies measuring or assessing something, often intangible or difficult to quantify directly.

assess

Emphasizes the evaluation of something's quality, importance, or value.

calculate roughly

Highlights the inexact nature of the calculation, suggesting a lack of precision.

project

Suggests predicting a future value based on current data and trends.

forecast

Specifically refers to predicting future events or conditions, especially in business or economics.

appraise

Indicates a formal evaluation, often used in real estate or art.

determine approximately

Stresses the act of finding out something close to the actual value, rather than precise determination.

reckon

Informal term for calculating or estimating, often used in casual conversation.

figure out

Implies solving a problem or understanding something through calculation or reasoning.

FAQs

How can I use "estimate" in a sentence?

You can use "estimate" as a verb, meaning to roughly calculate or judge the value of something, as in "I "estimate" the project will take three weeks". It can also be used as a noun, referring to a rough calculation, as in "I need an "estimate" for the repairs".

What are some synonyms for "estimate"?

Some synonyms for "estimate" include "approximate", "gauge", "assess", "project" and "forecast". The best choice depends on the specific context.

What's the difference between "estimate" and "calculate"?

"Estimate" implies a rough calculation, often based on incomplete data, while "calculate" suggests a more precise computation using known values. An "estimate" is a judgment, a calculation is a more exact result.

Is it better to say "estimated cost" or "estimate cost"?

"Estimated cost" is the correct phrasing. "Estimated" functions as an adjective, modifying the noun "cost". "Estimate cost" is grammatically incorrect.