precise to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "precise to" is not correct in written English.
Instead, phrases like "precisely" or "exactly" are more appropriate. For example, "She arrived precisely at 8:00 AM."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The seeds (n = 4068) were counted and individually weighed on a precision balance (precise to 0.1 mg).

AoB PLANTS

Similarly, youth were grouped into quartiles of carbohydrate counting precision: Q1 (most precise) to Q4 (least precise).

Diabetes Care

"We need to concentrate, to be precise, to be efficient.

The New York Times - Sports

But doing so means entering figures precise to five decimal points.

The Guardian

To my amazement, he fired back instantly with a figure precise to the terawatt.

The New York Times - Magazine

Such intelligence, of "smoking gun" significance, was too precise to be ignored or shunted aside.

The New Yorker

No jargon needed there; it's precise, to the point and absolutely fascinating.

The Guardian - Books

"To be precise, to be gracious and to stay in character.

The New York Times

They get thrown to the lions - or, to be more precise, to the Elephants and Eagles.

The Guardian - Sport

Or, to be more precise, to make sure that she's quoting Freud accurately?

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Hundreds of people attend the events (which have precise to-the-minute start times).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "precise to". Instead, opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "accurate to", "precise up to", or "exact to" to maintain clarity and credibility in your writing. For example: 'The measurements were accurate to 0.01 mm'.

Common error

A common mistake is using "precise to" when describing the degree of accuracy. This phrase is not standard English. Ensure you're using the correct preposition or rephrase for better clarity. Instead of 'precise to three decimal places', use 'precise to three decimal points'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "precise to" functions as an adjective phrase + preposition, attempting to specify the level of accuracy or exactness. However, it's not considered grammatically correct in standard English, as noted by Ludwig AI. It tries to modify a noun by indicating how accurate something is.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "precise to" aims to express a degree of accuracy, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. It appears mainly in science and news media contexts, although its incorrect usage affects its formality and credibility. For clear and correct writing, it's better to use alternatives like "accurate to", "precise up to", or "exact to". This ensures your message is accurately and professionally conveyed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exact to

Replaces "precise" with "exact", which is a direct synonym emphasizing accuracy.

accurate to

Substitutes "precise" with "accurate", maintaining the prepositional structure while offering a synonym.

precise up to

This alternative uses "up to" to specify the degree of precision, changing the prepositional focus.

accurate down to

This alternative emphasizes the level of detail to which accuracy is maintained, shifting the emphasis to the measurement scale.

precise within

Changes the preposition to "within" to indicate a range of acceptable deviation from a standard.

precise to the

Adds 'the' to create a construction "precise to the [unit of measure]"

accurate with

This uses "accurate" with "with" to specify a tool or method used for accuracy, rather than a degree of accuracy.

to be precise

This phrase introduces a clarification or correction, focusing on achieving greater accuracy.

down to the last

Indicates extreme precision, emphasizing attention to the smallest detail, a more idiomatic expression.

with precision

Transforms the phrase to focus on the quality of precision, rather than the specific limit of accuracy.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "precise to" that are grammatically correct?

Instead of using "precise to", you can use phrases like "accurate to", "precise up to", or "exact to" depending on the context.

How can I describe the degree of accuracy without using "precise to"?

You can rephrase your sentence to use alternatives such as "accurate down to", "precise within", or specify "to be precise" followed by the accurate detail.

Is "precise to" considered grammatically correct in formal writing?

No, "precise to" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to use more accepted phrases to ensure clarity and credibility in formal writing. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase "precise to" is not correct in written English.

Which is the correct way to indicate the level of detail: "precise to" or "precise up to"?

"Precise up to" is generally considered more grammatically sound than "precise to". You can also use "accurate to" or similar phrases for better clarity.