provide approximately

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "provide approximately" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to give an estimate or rough figure rather than an exact number. Example: "Please provide approximately 50 copies of the report for the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Private lenders currently provide approximately $85 billion a year in student loans.

The New York Times

Our European allies provide approximately four-fifths of these peacekeeping forces.

The New York Times

When using optimal mixtures, both cycles (separation and non-separation) can provide approximately equal performance.

Cryogenics

In 2010 desalinated water is expected to provide approximately 25% of Israel's fresh water supply.

Desalination

Three ounces of flounder and two glasses of skim milk provide approximately 43 grams of protein - all the protein the average woman needs in a day.

The New York Times

Heat transfer from banana surface by convection was found to provide approximately 70% of the heat required for transpiration.

Scientia Horticulturae

Dual-modular redundancy (DMR) can provide approximately 100% error coverage, but it has the problem of overhead excessive.

Parallel Computing

Boots expects to provide approximately 50,000 screens a year, with test kits available over the counter, testing and analysis carried out by Quest Diagnostics Limited, and treatment taking place in private areas.

The Guardian

The NIH provide approximately 20% of RLE's sponsored research funding, and supports efforts in communication biophysics, laser medicine, and neural prostheses.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Site O has the capacity to replace all of the housing in Eastgate (201 units), and provide approximately 270 additional units of graduate housing.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Oil and natural gas provide approximately two-thirds of primary energy today, and will continue to be major sources of energy for several decades.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "provide approximately", ensure that the context requires an estimated value rather than an exact figure. This phrasing adds a level of flexibility and acknowledges potential variation in the actual amount.

Common error

Avoid using "provide approximately" when precise data is available or required. Opt for accurate figures instead of estimations to maintain credibility and accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "provide approximately" functions as a verb phrase that introduces an estimated or approximated quantity or value. Ludwig AI confirms its role in conveying estimations rather than exact figures.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

33%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

11%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "provide approximately" is a commonly used phrase that serves to introduce an estimated quantity. Ludwig AI analysis shows the phrase is grammatically sound and accepted. It's prevalent in science, news, academic, and business contexts, with a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, it's crucial to ensure the context calls for an estimate rather than a precise figure. The phrase finds its use across diverse categories such as estimations in scientific findings, business forecasts, and general news reporting.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

offer roughly

Replaces "provide" with "offer" and "approximately" with "roughly", indicating a similar level of estimation.

supply around

Substitutes "provide" with "supply" and "approximately" with "around", keeping the meaning of an estimate.

furnish nearly

Uses "furnish" instead of "provide" and "nearly" in place of "approximately", suggesting a close estimation.

deliver close to

Substitutes "provide" with "deliver" and "approximately" with "close to", maintaining the sense of an estimation.

give an estimate of

Replaces the whole phrase with a more explicit description of estimation, changing the structure.

yield in the vicinity of

Employs "yield" instead of "provide" and "in the vicinity of" to convey a similar concept of approximate quantity.

allocate in the neighborhood of

Replaces "provide" with "allocate" and "approximately" with "in the neighborhood of", changing the tone and structure.

contribute something like

Uses "contribute" in place of "provide" and "something like" instead of "approximately", indicating a degree of uncertainty.

generate in the ballpark of

Replaces "provide" with "generate" and "approximately" with the idiom "in the ballpark of", giving an informal tone.

amount to more or less

Replaces the entire phrase with a more descriptive expression, specifying that the figure is an approximation.

FAQs

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

You can use "provide approximately" to indicate an estimated quantity or amount, such as, "The solar panels will "provide approximately" 50% of the building's energy needs."

What are some alternatives to "provide approximately"?

Alternatives include "offer roughly", "supply around", or "give an estimate of", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it better to use "provide approximately" or a more precise term?

It depends on the context. Use "provide approximately" when an exact figure is not available or necessary. If precision is important, use the most accurate data you have.

What's the difference between "provide approximately" and "provide exactly"?

"Provide approximately" suggests an estimation, while "provide exactly" implies a precise and accurate figure. Choose the phrasing that best reflects the certainty of the information.