which approximates to

USAGE SUMMARY

"which approximates to" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used when describing something that is similar to or closely resembles something else but is not an exact match. Example: "The new technology, which approximates to the capabilities of human vision, has revolutionized the field of artificial intelligence."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

Morgan, after a little reconnaissance (which approximates to three dots in T20 cricket), struck the ball with awesome, wristy power.

The Guardian - Sport

In general relativity, which, though less firmly established than the special theory, is intended to explain gravitational phenomena, a more complicated metric of variable curvature is employed, which approximates to the Minkowski metric in empty space far from material bodies.

Britannica

A special test facility has been designed and constructed which allows the AMS superconducting magnet coils to be tested individually in a cryogenic environment which approximates to conditions on the International Space Station.

Proceedings of the Twentieth International Cryogenic Engineering Conference (ICEC20)

Until now beam theory has not delivered a simple method of determining the direction of the peeling stress at the free edge of the structure, although a recent paper has proposed a formulation which approximates to the reality.

Microelectronics Reliability

To fund the reconstruction of the civilian infrastructure in Yemen, largely destroyed by the Saudis with our weapons, the United Nations has asked international donors such as DFID for £1.8bn, which approximates to the profits the UK arms industry has made off Saudi's intervention in Yemen.

The Guardian - Opinion

Heterogeneity in range of dispersal is widespread in nature and the distributions observed are commonly leptokurtic, with a semi-logarithmic curve which approximates to a straight line of negative slope (Bateman 1963).

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

The median sodium intake was 2245 IQR=10922) mg/day, which approximated to 5.6 g of salt/day (100 mg sodium=0.25 g salt).

BMJ Open

This represented more than a 500% increase of the per capita visit rates from the preceding year, which approximated to the Sphere humanitarian guideline of 1 consultation per capita per year.

Global health, science and practice

The scores for competence in plotting a partograph ranged between 0 and 9 (of 10) with a mean score of 1.08, which approximated to 11% of the maximum score.

BMJ Open

This can be noticed in the first two examples in Figure 2. The rings take hexagonal forms, which approximate to some extent iso-geodesic rings with respect to the root facet.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

It is seen that the proposed approach is able to provide the estimates of wall parameters which approximate to the true values, even with the presence of the target.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "which approximates to" when you want to convey that something is not exactly equal to something else, but is close enough for practical purposes or discussion. Be mindful of the context to ensure the approximation is meaningful.

Common error

Avoid using "which approximates to" in contexts that demand absolute precision. If exactness is required, opt for phrases like "which equals", "which is identical to", or other expressions of strict equivalence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which approximates to" functions as a relative clause introducing information that qualifies or describes a noun in the main clause. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and usable in written English. It indicates that something is similar but not identical to something else.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

12%

Encyclopedias

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "which approximates to" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate a near equivalence or resemblance, often in scientific or formal contexts. As Ludwig AI states, it's suitable when describing something that is similar but not an exact match. While its usage is relatively rare, it serves the specific purpose of conveying an estimation or comparison. When writing, be mindful of the level of precision required; if exactness is paramount, consider alternative phrases. The phrase appears predominantly in scientific sources, followed by news and media and encyclopedias indicating a formal, factual tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

which is close to

This alternative uses simpler language, replacing "approximates" with "is close to" for a more direct expression of similarity.

which is similar to

This alternative focuses on the similarity between two things, without necessarily implying a mathematical or precise approximation.

which roughly equates to

This phrase implies a more general correspondence, suitable when a precise equivalence is not intended.

which is comparable to

This option emphasizes the ability to compare two things, highlighting their shared characteristics.

which nearly equals

This suggests a very high degree of similarity, almost reaching equality.

that is an approximation of

Changes the structure to emphasize the approximation itself rather than the relationship between two entities.

that corresponds approximately to

This alternative adds a degree of formality, suitable for academic or technical contexts.

that bears a resemblance to

This highlights the resemblance between two things, often in a qualitative sense.

that is in the neighborhood of

This phrase indicates that the two quantities are roughly within the same range.

which is in the vicinity of

A less common, slightly more formal way of saying something is close to a certain value or condition.

FAQs

How can I use "which approximates to" in a sentence?

You can use "which approximates to" to indicate a close, but not exact, similarity. For example: "The model, "which approximates to" real-world conditions, provides valuable insights."

What's a simpler way to say "which approximates to"?

Alternatives include "which is close to", "which is similar to", or "which is roughly equal to" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always appropriate to use "which approximates to" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "which approximates to" can sometimes sound less formal than alternatives like "which corresponds approximately to". Consider your audience and the desired tone.

What is the difference between "which approximates to" and "which equals"?

"Which approximates to" suggests an inexact comparison, while "which equals" indicates a precise equivalence. Use the former when something is nearly the same as something else, and the latter when it is exactly the same.