was approximately equal to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was approximately equal to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are comparing values or measurements that are close in numerical terms but not exactly the same. Example: "The total cost of the project was approximately equal to the budget we had set aside for it."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That was approximately equal to its embedded value, a forward-looking benchmark for insurance valuation.

The New York Times

According to my calculations, the number of days he stayed away was approximately equal to the number of households in the village.

The New Yorker

An average video sold 50,000 copies at $1 $2 each, an amount that was approximately equal to a labourer's daily wage.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The annual surface heat source or available energy (Rn − G) in AM was approximately equal to that in BL.

Agricultural and Forest Meteorology

As a result, adsorption amount of cation was approximately equal to dissolved amount of Mg2+ from CHT.

Microporous and Mesoporous Materials

The elimination efficiency of TOC by the sludge treatment was approximately equal to that obtained by irradiation of 15 kGy.

Applied Water Science

The solid field-of-view angle of the photon detector was approximately equal to 0.36/4 π × 6.25 × 1010.

Earth, Planets and Space

The plateaus were around a maximum stress level of 600 MPa, which was approximately equal to the material yield strength of 586 MPa.

Materials Science and Engineering: A

The crystallinity of as-spun PCL fibers was approximately equal to that of the annealing fibers by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

Polymer

The calculation time was approximately equal to that of the well-mixed zonal model and much faster than that of the CFD transient analysis.

Building and Environment

Evaluation of the electric cogeneration system showed that cost-savings of electricity produced from biogas combustion was approximately equal to the producer's debt service for capital investment.

Biomass and Bioenergy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was approximately equal to", ensure that the context provides a clear understanding of the degree of approximation. Specify a margin of error if precision is important.

Common error

Avoid using "was approximately equal to" when the values are significantly different. This phrase implies a close similarity, so use a more appropriate term like "was remotely similar to" if the values are far apart.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was approximately equal to" functions as a comparative expression, indicating that two quantities or values are nearly, but not perfectly, equivalent. As Ludwig AI suggests, this phrase introduces a degree of imprecision in the comparison.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

83%

News & Media

12%

Encyclopedias

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was approximately equal to" is a common and grammatically correct way to express near-equivalence between two values or quantities. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and prevalence across various contexts. Primarily found in scientific literature and news reporting, the phrase indicates a strong similarity while acknowledging a potential difference. For more precision, consider alternatives such as "was nearly identical to" or, when a less formal tone is suitable, "was about the same as". Always ensure the context aligns with the level of precision implied by the phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was roughly equivalent to

Indicates a slight degree of imprecision, similar to the original phrase, with 'roughly' replacing 'approximately'.

was about the same as

Uses simpler language to convey approximate equality. 'About the same' is less formal than 'approximately equal'.

was nearly identical to

Suggests a very close similarity, almost to the point of being the same, but not perfectly so.

was almost equivalent to

Emphasizes the near equivalence, highlighting that the values are very close but not exactly equal.

was in the neighborhood of

An idiomatic expression that suggests the value was close to a specific number or range.

was close to being equal to

More verbose, it highlights the proximity to equality without achieving it perfectly.

equaled approximately

Inverts the structure, placing 'equaled' at the start, while retaining the core meaning.

was comparable to

Indicates similarity for the purpose of comparison but doesn't necessarily imply numerical closeness.

approximated

A more concise verb that directly expresses the concept of approximate equality.

was of a similar magnitude as

Focuses on the size or scale being alike, which is one way to interpret approximate equality.

FAQs

How can I use "was approximately equal to" in a sentence?

Use "was approximately equal to" to compare two values, quantities, or measurements that are nearly the same but not exact. For example: "The cost of the repair "was approximately equal to" the initial estimate."

What are some alternatives to "was approximately equal to"?

Alternatives include "was roughly equivalent to", "was nearly identical to", or "was about the same as", depending on the desired level of formality and precision.

Is it better to say "was approximately equal to" or "was exactly equal to"?

Use "was approximately equal to" when the values are not precisely the same but are very close. Use "was exactly equal to" when the values are identical without any variation.

In what situations is it appropriate to use the phrase "was approximately equal to"?

This phrase is suitable in contexts where precise figures are not necessary or available, and a near-equivalence is sufficient to make a point. Common in science, news reporting, and general descriptions.