relatively accurate

USAGE SUMMARY

"relatively accurate" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe an estimation or measure that is close, but not exactly precise. For example, "The measurements we took were relatively accurate, but there was still a margin of error."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Even though his leg-break barely turns off the straight, he has been relatively accurate.

The Guardian - Sport

It's almost naive, scientifically speaking, to think we can give relatively accurate predictions for future climate.

The Guardian

These results confirm that the simulation strain was relatively accurate.

Materials & Design

Even when starting out with relatively accurate information, Census data can rapidly become out of date.

The Washington Post

People with mild depression are relatively accurate when predicting future events.

The Guardian

Unusually for stories that appear in the gossip press, this one turns out to have been relatively accurate.

The Guardian

Price indexes thus can give relatively accurate measures of price change only for periods close together in time.

Britannica

Lastly, the predictive model that we have developed enables a relatively accurate and cheaper way of estimating gender disparities.

University of California, Berkeley

Intersampler comparisons show that sulfur and sulfate measurement technology provided precise and relatively accurate (within 2-22%) concentrations.

Stanford University

The software is a convenient and relatively accurate tool for evaluating the feasibility of renewable systems.

Energy

Eventually, relatively accurate theoretical and numerical PAT performance prediction methods were developed.

Renewable Energy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "relatively accurate", clarify the context by specifying what it is accurate in relation to. For example, "The model provides a "relatively accurate" prediction compared to simpler models."

Common error

Avoid using "relatively accurate" when the information is significantly flawed. It's misleading to describe wildly inaccurate data as "relatively accurate" as it implies a reasonable level of precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "relatively accurate" functions as an adverbial modifier to an adjective. It modifies the adjective "accurate", indicating that something possesses a degree of correctness or precision, but not perfectly or absolutely.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

33%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "relatively accurate" is a common and correct phrase used to describe something that is mostly correct but not perfect. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is widely accepted and used across various fields, especially in science, news, and academia. When using "relatively accurate", it's helpful to provide context by specifying what is accurate in relation to and avoid overstating the degree of accuracy. Alternatives such as "reasonably precise" or "fairly accurate" can be used depending on the intended nuance. Understanding these subtle differences ensures effective and precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reasonably precise

Implies a level of accuracy that meets expectations or requirements in a practical sense.

fairly precise

Suggests a good level of accuracy, though not necessarily perfect.

moderately correct

Indicates a degree of correctness that is more than just approximate, but not entirely without error.

somewhat exact

Suggests a level of precision that is noticeable, but may still leave room for slight deviation.

generally correct

Indicates that something is true or accurate in most cases, though there may be exceptions.

largely exact

Implies that the majority of details or elements are accurate, with few discrepancies.

approximatively precise

Suggests a degree of precision achieved by approximation or estimation.

nearly exact

Indicates a high degree of accuracy, approaching but not necessarily reaching perfection.

roughly accurate

Suggests a level of correctness that is adequate for a quick estimate or overview, without detailed scrutiny.

in the right ballpark

Idiomatic expression indicating an estimation that is close enough to be useful, though not precisely accurate.

FAQs

How can I use "relatively accurate" in a sentence?

You can use "relatively accurate" to describe something that is close to being correct or precise, but not perfectly so. For instance, "The weather forecast was "relatively accurate" this week."

What's the difference between "relatively accurate" and "completely accurate"?

"Relatively accurate" implies there may be some degree of error or imprecision, whereas "completely accurate" suggests there are no errors whatsoever.

What are some alternatives to "relatively accurate"?

Alternatives include "reasonably precise", "fairly accurate", or "moderately correct". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of emphasis.

Is it better to say "fairly accurate" or "relatively accurate"?

Both "fairly accurate" and "relatively accurate" are acceptable. "Fairly accurate" suggests a slightly higher degree of precision than "relatively accurate", but the difference is subtle.