precisely speaking

USAGE SUMMARY

"precisely speaking" is an acceptable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to emphasize a statement that follows it. For example, "Precisely speaking, the deadline for submitting this report is Friday at noon."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Or, perhaps more precisely, speaking for them and their land.

The New York Times - Books

We are going to continue with the financially sound measure – we will offer mothers, or precisely speaking mothers and fathers, parents, this form of a maternity and paternity leave.

The Economist

Precisely speaking, for a given disturbance attenuation level, we need to design a distributed output-feedback protocol such that the closed-loop system asymptotically reaches output synchronization when there do not exist disturbances, and the L2-gain from disturbances to the controlled output is less than the given level.

Applied Mathematics and Computation

At which point (precisely speaking, on page 6 of Stet ), I felt that I was going to be very happy indeed in this woman's company; and that it was rather a shame that she was born in 1917 and I wasn't until nearly half a century later.

The Guardian - Books

More precisely speaking, Nguyen and Stehlé [7] defined det ( L ) as the square root of det{B T B}.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

(Precisely speaking, t in Eq. 1 has to be divided by the chosen time unit (e.g., 1 min).

EJNMMI Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

The questions were precisely spoken and sophisticated.

The New Yorker

"That precisely speaks to my point," Mr. Barnett said.

The New York Times

Softly and precisely spoken, he described his antipathy towards the licence fee, comparing it to "the tithes that the Church of England used to live off.

The Guardian

Speak precisely, speak honestly, measure your words well -- this is the Torah's commandment.

Huffington Post

In such a case, S is enabled to fulfill a conversational maxim (by meaning something other than what she actually expresses) precisely by speaking in such a way that she would flout the maxim, blatantly violate it, if she were to mean what she says.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "precisely speaking", ensure that the subsequent statement is indeed more precise. Avoid using it simply as a filler phrase; it should genuinely add value to the communication.

Common error

Avoid using "precisely speaking" in casual conversations or informal writing. Its formal tone can sound stilted or pretentious in less serious settings. Opt for simpler alternatives like "actually" or "really" in informal contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "precisely speaking" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a clause to introduce a more accurate or refined statement. As supported by Ludwig AI, this usage is grammatically correct and widely accepted.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Academia

6%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "precisely speaking" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase that serves to introduce a more accurate or refined version of a statement. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is acceptable in written English, particularly in formal contexts. Its primary function is to provide clarity and precision, making it well-suited for scientific writing, news articles, and formal communications. When incorporating "precisely speaking" into your writing, ensure that it genuinely enhances the accuracy of the statement and avoid overuse in informal contexts. Alternatives such as "to be precise" or "more accurately" can provide similar levels of precision. Overall, the phrase contributes positively to clear and effective communication when used appropriately.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to be precise

This phrase provides a direct and concise alternative to emphasize accuracy.

more accurately

This option highlights the improvement in accuracy being offered.

to put it more accurately

Slightly more verbose, this phrase still emphasizes improved accuracy.

in more precise terms

This phrase focuses on the level of detail and exactness.

strictly speaking

This alternative emphasizes adherence to a strict definition or rule.

more specifically

Focuses on providing a narrower, more detailed perspective.

in other words

This option is more general, suggesting clarification rather than increased precision.

to clarify

Introduces an explanation intended to make something clearer.

for clarification

Introduces a statement that provides more clarity on a subject.

if I may be so precise

Adds a touch of formality and politeness before offering a precise statement.

FAQs

How can I use "precisely speaking" in a sentence?

You can use "precisely speaking" to introduce a more accurate or specific version of a statement. For example, "The project is near completion; "precisely speaking", we expect to finish by next Friday".

What is a good alternative to "precisely speaking"?

Alternatives to "precisely speaking" include "to be precise", "more accurately", or "strictly speaking". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "precisely speaking" in formal writing?

Yes, "precisely speaking" is entirely appropriate in formal writing. It adds a level of sophistication and clarity, signaling that you are about to offer a more refined or exact statement. However, avoid overuse to maintain a natural flow.

What's the difference between "precisely speaking" and "technically speaking"?

"Precisely speaking" emphasizes accuracy and detail, while "technically speaking" focuses on adhering to specific rules or technicalities. Use "precisely speaking" when you want to offer a more refined statement, and "technically speaking" when you want to emphasize adherence to a specific set of rules or standards.