when approximately

USAGE SUMMARY

"when approximately" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you would like to give a general time frame or when you are saying that something happened or will happen around a certain point in time. For example, "He arrived approximately 20 minutes late."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

When, approximately, did the minute hand show up on watches, and why? d.

The New York Times

The number of wholesalers began to drop sharply in 1995, when approximately 180 distributed magazines.

The New York Times

That's when approximately 65 other heads of state and government are expected to attend.

The Guardian - Opinion

Interim analyses will be conducted when approximately 25%, 50%, and 75% of events have occurred.

American Heart Journal

I completed my PhD in 2001, when approximately 45% of biomedical PhD students in the UK were women.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Plants were irrigated with measured amount of saline solutions to obtain 30% leaching when approximately 50% water had been depleted.

Scientia Horticulturae

The task has probably never been so challenging as it will be in two weeks, when approximately 300 bishops from around the country meet in Baltimore.

The New York Times

In terms of jobs, the Obama recovery compares with the Clinton recovery, of the nineteen-nineties, when approximately 2.8 million jobs were created each year.

The New Yorker

All the samples were turbid when approximately more than 60 mol% salt was added, suggesting phase separation.

Electrochimica Acta

Here are a few players to watch on Sunday, when approximately half of each draw will take the courts.

The New York Times

The first round of the contest began Jan .l7, when approximately 40 students took an hour long test of 35 integrals.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "when approximately", ensure the context clearly indicates what event or time frame you are estimating. Provide any known reference points to give the reader a clearer understanding.

Common error

Avoid following "when approximately" with definitive statements that contradict the initial approximation. For example, don't say "when approximately 30 people arrived, exactly 32 signed in".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when approximately" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate an estimated time or point at which an action occurs. Ludwig examples show its utility in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

51%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "when approximately" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to indicate an estimated time or point at which something occurs. As Ludwig AI indicates, its grammatically sound and appropriate for various contexts. While it appears most frequently in scientific and news media sources, its usage is generally neutral and acceptable in both formal and informal settings. Remember to use it when precision is not required and to avoid contradicting the approximation with definitive statements later in your writing. Consider alternatives such as "around when" or "roughly when" to vary your phrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

roughly when

Replaces "approximately" with a synonym that implies an imprecise estimate.

around when

Specifies a period or point in time with less precision.

about when

Indicates an estimated time, similar to "when approximately".

close to when

Suggests an event happened or will happen near a certain time.

somewhere around when

Adds emphasis to the uncertainty of the timing.

circa when

Uses a Latin term to indicate the time is approximate.

in the neighborhood of when

A more verbose way to indicate an approximate time.

in the vicinity of when

Uses more formal language to indicate an estimated time.

at about the time when

Adds a bit more length but conveys the same meaning of approximation.

give or take, when

Emphasizes the possible error in the time estimate.

FAQs

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

Use "when approximately" to indicate an estimated time frame or point when an event occurs. For example, "The project will be completed when approximately 50% of the funding is secured."

What can I say instead of "when approximately"?

You can use alternatives like "around when", "about when", or "roughly when" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to use "when approximately" with another term indicating estimation?

While not strictly redundant, using "when approximately" alongside other estimation terms (like "about" or "around") can be unnecessary. Choose the clearest and most concise option.

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

"When approximately" indicates an estimation, while "when exactly" implies precision. Using one over the other depends on the level of accuracy you want to convey.