that is precisely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that is precisely" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize accuracy or to confirm that something is exactly as stated or described. Example: "The results of the experiment were unexpected, but that is precisely what we were hoping for."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

In fact, that is precisely its point.

The Economist

Yet, today that is precisely the case.

HuffPost

That is precisely Lee's objective.

The New York Times - Sports

That is precisely what happened in Atlanta.

The New York Times

But that is precisely the point.

The Economist

And that is precisely what Romney meant.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

That was precisely his failure.

The New Yorker

That's precisely the point".

The Economist

That was precisely the point.

Independent

That was precisely what happened.

The New York Times - Sports

That's precisely it.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "that is precisely" to emphasize agreement or exactness in formal writing and presentations.

Common error

Avoid using "that is precisely" too frequently in casual conversation, as it can sound overly formal or stilted. Opt for more relaxed alternatives like "exactly" or "that's it."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that is precisely" functions as an emphatic affirmation or confirmation. It serves to highlight the accuracy or exactness of a statement, aligning with examples found by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "that is precisely" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to emphasize agreement or accuracy. As Ludwig confirms, it is commonly found in news and media, academic, and formal business contexts. While highly versatile, it's important to consider the formality of the setting to avoid overuse in casual conversations. Alternatives such as "that is exactly" or "that is indeed" offer similar emphasis while possibly fitting a broader range of situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that is exactly

Replaces 'precisely' with 'exactly', indicating an identical match or correspondence.

that is just

Uses 'just' to emphasize accuracy and appropriateness.

that's precisely it

Adds 'it' to highlight the specific point or thing being confirmed.

that is indeed

Replaces 'precisely' with 'indeed' to emphasize agreement or confirmation.

that is accurately

Focuses on the accuracy of the statement or description.

that is specifically

Highlights that something is particularly or uniquely relevant.

that is closely

Indicates a tight relationship or correlation.

that is correctly

Affirms the correctness or validity of something.

this is exactly what

Uses 'this' to refer to a situation or action matching a previous description.

that is the point

Highlights that something is the central or most important aspect.

FAQs

How can I use "that is precisely" in a sentence?

"That is precisely" is used to express exact agreement or highlight the accuracy of a statement. For example, "The data confirms our initial hypothesis; that is precisely what we predicted."

What are some alternatives to "that is precisely"?

You can use alternatives like "that is exactly", "that is just", or "that is indeed" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "that is precisely"?

It is appropriate in formal contexts where you want to emphasize the accuracy or exactness of something. It's commonly used in academic, professional, and news-related writing.

Is "that is precisely" interchangeable with "this is precisely"?

While similar, "that is precisely" refers to something previously mentioned, while "this is precisely" points to something currently being observed or experienced. Consider using "this is exactly" for scenarios where the focus is on the present moment.